CITY COUNCIL EMPLOYEES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 10, 7 October 1919, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL EMPLOYEES

DISSATISFACTION WITH WAGE INCREASE. A largely-attended meeting of City Council employees; presided over by Mr. H. Adams, was. held at tho Clyde Quay School last evening, to discuss the recenl decision of the council that a wage of £$ 155.. a week ;be .-'-paid.. to- -permanent labourers in the "employ of the' corporation. " '. Dissatisfaction was expressed on : il' sides at the "paltry concession" the conn, oil had given its employees in answer to the demand for a living wage. It wn<pointed, out that when war broke our. the wage pair] by the council was 12s. Bd., and that, taking the decreased purchasing power of the sovereign Itday into "account, the. increase granted by the council meant that the men would virtually receive a waije of onlv M 9s. 4d.;' Out of this sum. it, trail explained, they had to contribute 4?. to ss. a week superannuation. This meant that they would now receive-for all practical purposes several shilling per week less than t.hev did before the war. The Mayor Mr. -T. 13.I 3 . Lnke._ M.P.'i came in for som? crißcism- for statin" in "Parliament that he was in favour of the Whitley Rfnort, and vet refuging to grant the City Council employees tho mlit of nn appeal lx>ard. 'This, it alleged, was inconsistent on hi« narl: OK jpction was al=o taken to the action of the rouneil in shelvinc.the men's demands tiU the dving stages of last conns cil meeting, when the members had neither Hmfi nor inclination to, seriously di'cuss the matter. ' • A motinii was ne o th.st. a deputation be formed representative of - I ', prade.*, to approach the council for furtlim- consideration c'f the demands. The meeting then went into committee to discuss the formation of a tinio". to b° comnosed of nil gradss of. City Council employees.