PLUMBERS’ DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 154, 25 March 1939, Page 13

PLUMBERS’ DISPUTE

Higher Wages Sought By Workers EMPLOYERS’ OPPOSITION Wages, tool money allowance, suburban and country work and the term of the award were the principal matters iu dispute in the Dominion plumbers’ dispute which was beard by the Court of Arbitration yesterday. An increase in wages of 6<l. from 2/9 to 3/3 an hour wa.< sought by the workers and 5/- a week for tools. The employers offered the present award clauses. The Court reserved its decision. Mr. D. I. Macdonald (Christchurch) appeared for the employers and Mr. H. Thompson for tlie workers.

Mr. Thompson submit led that the wages for gasfitiers and plumbers had always been rated too low. No other apprentice in the building trade had to serve au apprenticeship of five years. Plumbers and gaslitters’ apprentices had to serve for six years. They were required to secure special knowledge and sit for an examination. Their education never ceased. Year after year they had to adapt themselves to new ideas, methods and different materials. To obtain advancement, the examination held under the jurisdiction of the plumbers’ board or the technological examination hard to be passed. After passing these the renewal of licences cost. 5/- a year. Men Leaving Trade.

“There is a serious position existing in the plumbing industry at the moment,” said Mr. Thompson. “While the Government is endeavouring to secure tradesmen from Australia, tradesmen in New Zealand are leaving the trade because of the rates of wages and conditions of employment. In Wellington alone about 40 plumbers, many of whom are registered, are working in other occupations where the work is more permanent, in addition to which they are paid for statutory and annual holidays.” The uuiou asked that all work more than one mile and a half out of town should be paid for at the suburban rate, and travelling time should be paid.

Mr. Thompson asked that the award be made for a term of one year, because of the unsettled nature of industrial legislation and probable increases in the cost of living.

Claims Opposed.

The claims of the union were opposed by the employers on the grounds that they were most extravagant, said Mr. Macdonald. With the allowances suggested by the workers, iu addition to the wages they asked, they would work out at £382/4/- a year, or £7/7/a week or 3/8 an hour. The trade could not carry such a heavy load; in fact. it. was inacapable of carrying any ioad beyond that at present carried. The employees opposed any further increase in wages beyond the Court’s standard wage rate fixed iu 1937. “A small country such as New Zealand, only very slowly developing as an industrial country and with only a slowly increasing population, cannot stand continual increases in costs such as would be brought about by any further increase in wage rates, in this or any other section of the building industry,” he said. “It is recognized that the award rate is a minimum rate, and where in some centres there is a temporary shortage of labour these award rates, particularly in the building industry, are very often exceeded by employers for the more highly skilled men. This is something for which these men should be grateful, as no doubt they are. It is not, however, a justification for raising the whole level of wages in New Zealand at a time when the economic condition of the country does not justify it; in fact, if our primary industries are taken as a guide, and I submit that iu New Zealand they are our principal guide to prosperity, then even a reduction might be justified.” The employers were opposed to the extension of the holiday provisions of the present award, and particularly to the introduction of au annual holiday. If an annual holiday was to be universally granted, it was a matter for the Legislature to deal with, said Mr. Mt .Jonald,

The employers asked that the term of the award be fixed at two years to ensure stability in the trade. Submissions relating to hours of work, suburban and dirty work were made by Mr. K. Belford, who appeared on behalf of the Union Steam Ship Company.