AN ULTIMATUM

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 306, 14 September 1918, Page 8

AN ULTIMATUM

,_ 4 TRAMWAY MEN WILL NOT WORK OVERTIME WILL THE COUNCIL EMPLOY WOMEN? i Matters concerning the tramways dispute assumed a serious complexion, yesterday. At a meeting of the men held in the morning the following wae agreed to:— Subject to endorsement at tonight's shirt meeting the members of the union, for reasons or health, decline to work any overtime in tramway work, the reasons being that the City Corporation always computes overtime in wages received, and we are of opinion that we are not receiving commensurate vages for the work performed in ordinary hours. The above was duly submitted last evening to a meeting of the men who had been on duty during the daytime, when the proposed action was unanimously endorsed. The assumption, therefore, is that the men will'decline to work the "broken shift" to-day, in' which' case the public is likely to be seriously inconvenienced at the rush hours of the day. 'The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), who was seen in reference to the decision of the men not to work overtime, said he was very sorry that the men had decided to take so serious a step, and one so inimical to tho interests of the general .public. As he had stated hefore, he was sorry the council did not stick to its offer of ss. extra per week for married men, which he thought wii3 a, better suggestion than the 6 per cent, bonus all round ultimately offered by the council. There was 110 disguising the fact that the decision of tho men would be a very costly one to the citizens of Wellington, as it would mean the employment of another fifty men, who would'be employed only during the "broken shift" (time usually worked by the staff in ordinary as overtime). In ordinary hours about 50 cars were employed to keep up the service, but ill rush hours, between noon and 2 p.m., and 5 and 6.30 p.m., 105 cars were employed, and they wore very often insufficient to carry tho traffic. If the men refuse to work overtime to-day it will mean the cutting out of about 20 cars at a time when they arc most needed—between 11.30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. The action of _ the men was unquestionably, embarrassing. "I have mentioned," said.Mr. Luke, "on more than one occasion in the ■council that the time might come when we will have to employ women on tho cars, as they are doing all over the "United Kingdom. For the last two years Mr Morton (general manager) has had tho utmost difficulty in suitable men for conductors and mbl'ormen, and now, as the men are forcing our hands,, it looks as though we will have to consider the employment of women on the cars. I don't like to do it, but, if the men won't work the 'broken shift , as overtime and we. can't get others, we must get help to keep tho service going." Mr. Luke said that the general manager was preparing a statement showing . what tho financial difference would bo between paying the present staff overtime to work the broken time and employing additional staff to work it. What the difference was ho did not know, but it was pretty considerable. Whatever that difterenco was would havo to be borne by the citizens.