RECENT TROUBLE AT PETONE GASWORKS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 277, 17 August 1921, Page 6

RECENT TROUBLE AT PETONE GASWORKS

COUNCIL’S ACTION STILL QUESTIONED.

That Labour organisations in various parts of the Dominion are not disposed to regard the recent trouble at the 1 etone gasworks as closed was shown by communications received by the Borough Council at Monday night’s meeting, lhe Canterbury Trades and Labour Council condemned the council's action in retusin" to meet the men, ‘'thus challenging the right of collective bargaining by a trade union.” A resolution sympathising with the employees in their effort to resist a reduction in wages was forwarded by the Auckland branch of the ASKS who condemned the action ot the’council “in attempting to lower the standard of living of the workers. A tetter was also read from the secretary of the Petone Gasworkers' Union in which it was stated that the members were entitled to several days’ pay in lieu of holidays, that one member was oil on sick pay when the council gave the stokers notice, and that there was also unpaid the retrospective pay to a man who left the service some months ago. All the letters were .dee't 111 committee. The first two communications were received. The matters mentioned bv the secretary of the Gasworkers’ Union were referred to the Labour Department, by whose decision the council are prepared to abide.