DRIVERS' WAGES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 137, 5 March 1919, Page 3

DRIVERS' WAGES

STRIKE OR DISMISSAL? ECHO OF RECENT DISPUTE An echo of the recent drivers' dispute w.us heard before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M.. in the Magistrate's Court yesterdav in a case in which William Stephen Fisher and Ivo Greer, drivers, proceeded aKiiinst b\ T. Hoove and Co., motor proprietors, of JohusoiiviUe. on claims lor i' 3 and £i respectively in lieu of a week's notice. Mr. J. A. Scott appeared for plaintiffs, and Mr. A. W. Blair for defendants. Mr. Scott said the two cases arose oat of the alleged dismissal of Greer and Fisher by Moore on December 11, 1918. Moore was no't a party to any award, and it was alleged by plaintiffs that, as n result of a meeting held on the evening of December 11, at which defendants eiß; ployees decided to join the Drivers Union, they were dismissed without notice. Ivo Greer, driver, of Wellington, stated that up to December 11 last he was cmployed as a driver at the rate of M per week. He also did repair work; in fact, he did more of that class of work than aptual driving. During ifceniber a' meeting of the defendants' five employees was held, as a result of which they approached Moore, aad stated that they intended to join the t)rivcrf.' Union. Mooro replied: "If that is so, I cannot pay union wages, so you ,had better finisn up to-night." As far as witness was concerned, the union -ete of wages were not as high as those he received from defendant. Witness was subsequently paid off. Mr. Blair: What we 6ny is tha't the men said they would not work unless they got increased pny and shorter hours. They really struck. In reply to further questions, witness said the question of wages was not discussed at the interview with Moore. All that was staled was that the men intended to join the union.

11 ig "Worship: The whole question is Is it a strike or a dismissal?

Mr. Btair (to witness): Didn't you turn up at half-past eight the following day, nnd find that Mr. Moore had made arraiiKemeuis to carry ou?—"No." Why didii't you go to work?—" There was no work to do."

Weil, you roaliy tacked yourself, then? —"Mr. ikwro told us the previous night that he inttiitckd to pay us off." Mr. Scott: If there had been work offering would you have taken it on?— "Yes."

. William C. Fisher said he had been employed at a wage of .£3 per week. Witness said that up , to December 11 ha had not been a member of the union, and had incurred the odium of other motor drivers who were unionists. After the meeting at which it was decided to join tho union, the employees waited on defendant, who said that he could not pay the union wages, and advised them to hold another meeting. They did so, and again informed defendant of, their intention to join tho union, whereupon Moore said there would be no work next morning, and that they need not turn up. Ha also said Jig would put his wagirons away until his eons came back from the war. Andrew Parlane, secretary of the Drivers, Union, suld he had asked Mr. F. Moore's employees to join the union in order to strengthen the demands that were being made for a new award. Ho explained to Ihe men that if they dm join they could not get better wages at that time. Mr. Blair submitted that it was clear that the men went in a body to Jloore, an,i informed him that they would not go on unless there were certain altorations in the conditions of work. His Worship: Oh, no; they say Hint Moore said he would not be in a position to pay anything else, mid that lie would havo no work to find for them ne.xt morning. Mr. Blair contended that the men had dismissed themselves. They could have luven notice of their intention to leave defendant's employ, but they.did not do

so. . Defendant said- tho men came to him and infprmed him that they were joinins tho union. Hβ had beon informed that tho union demands provided for a wnso of X's per week and 3s. per hour overtime, for a 44-hour week. Ho told the men that it would bo impossible, to pay those wages, and it would lu&an that if he attempted to do so ho would have to (jo out of the business. Ho asked the men to reconsider the matter, and they did s.o, but came back and informed him that they were determined to join the union. . They also demanded Jβ a week, and said that unless they got what they asked they would not start on tiie following: moraine:. Witness replied, "Very well, I can't go on." Later on, witness's nephew and some of the men were taken back pt the existing rate of waxee, but it was agreed , that they should also receive a share of the.profits, to bo ascertained quarterly. , Replying to Mr. Scott, defendant said lie had no objection to the men joining the union. The men themselves refused to work under the old arrangements. At this stags the further hearing of the case was adjourned until to-morrow morning.