CITY EMPLOYEES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 7

CITY EMPLOYEES

MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS

APPEAL' BOARD PROPOSED

At a meeting of employees to discuss the City Council's order that all its employees should undergo a medical examination, Mr. J. Bead (secretary of the Engine Drivers' Union) presided, and Mr. P. Butler (secretary of the General Labourers' Union) was appointed secretary. Mr. R. M'Keon, M.P., attended. Tho unions had not been consulted, said Mr. Read, and it seemed councillors had not been fully aware of the position until the order was about to be enforced. Organised action had brought matters to. a "head, however, and he was pleased to see that notice of motion had been given which, if put into effect1, would modify the effect of the order. Unions concerned had not been asked to attend the council meeting at which the order was made. He thought an appeal board should be set up to deal with matters of a contentious nature in the casor of all city employees. At present this was the ease only'with tramway employees. In the ensuing discussion disapproval of the council's action was generally expressed, and the following resolution was carried: —"That .this meeting^representative of the ,carpenters, bricklayers, engineers, labourers, coachworkers, .painters, motor and ■ horse drivers, and engine-drivers employed by the City Council protests emphatically against the method adopted by the Mayor in convening a meeting which purported to give representation to the unions concerned without putting the invitations through the proper channel, namely, the administrative officers of the. organisations concerned. The method as adopted had the effect of only two of the eight unions concerned being represented. We protest against this method, of discussing matters affecting vital principles and conditions of the workers, at which the men are not adequately represented and are in fact ignored." The unfairness of .the medical examination of council motor-drivers while thousands of other drivers were permitted to use the highways without examination was stressed, and it was suggested that the question could .be dealt with by the Minister of Transport. ; Resolutions opposing any further extension of' tho system of medical examinations required, by the council, and asking for the setting up of an appeal board, were carried, and Mr. Read was appointed convener of a committee to place the whole matter before the City Council on Monday. (