THE STRIKE SETTLED

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1920, Page 2

THE STRIKE SETTLED

MEN RESUMED. The Chief Pcfetniaster advised as follows: The following message was received on Supday morning. * “The Prime Minister met the Executive of the Engine Drivers’ Firemen’s and Cleaner’s Association in conference this evening (Saturday).” An agreement was arrived at.

All members of the Loco Association are being advised to return to work immediately. Trains will .commence running as usual from midnight on Sunday. THE SETTLEMENT TERMS. WELLINGTON, May 2. The railway strike was settled late on Saturday, when Mr Massey had an interview wijji j>he l.oco men. The Executive 1 of the Union agreed to waive tlieir claim for the retrospective payment of increases, and to agree to flip reference of the dispute to a tribunal.

Everything is in train for a resumption of various services tpanorrow.

MR MASSEY’S STATEMENT. WELLINGTON, May 2. In commenting of the settlement obtained Mr Massey made the following statement:—“ln each ease the principle of conciliation is lieing observed for the points in dispute, as between the E.F.C.A. and the Government. A special conciliation committee is being set up apd I hope tq have it appointed at or before the end of the week and to get it to work as soon as possible thereafter. Iq the other two cases of the First Division and A.S.It.S. the provisions otf the Labour Disputes Investigation Act are being taken advantage of, so far as they apply. They do not quite fit as regards the dispute between the Crown and its employees; but the principle is being observed. I have no doufyt that it will work but satisfactorily. lam naturally very' glad that the strike has come to an end, especially as it enables the original programme of pur Royal visitor to he proceeded with. I am glad to say ibnt so far as I am able to judge and I 'think I am right in this, the dispute has left no bitterness behind:. The negotiations, were conducted in the most friendly spirit, although they were on Friday and Saturday somewhat protracted; hut the result of it all is that we understand one another better than we did before and as a consequence I believe that any disputes that ma v ■ occur in the future will be very much more easily settled arid that the Minister of Railways and the Railway Department on the one hand and the railwaymen on the othc" will be better able to work loyally together for our experience, during the last few weeks.

MEN’S LEADERS NOT UNITED. WELLINGTON, May 1. Some difference of opinion seems to have arisen between the A.S.R.S. and flip loco mep. A delegation from the former waited on the E.F.C.A. with the object of reaching an understanding. The loco executive said that the traffic mpn must please themselves about -e----suining work and running trains with substitute dirivers. It was the loco men’s strike and they intended to get a settlement in their own way. At a meeting of the A.S.R.S. men, statements were.freely made by certain members that they would work the trains whoever the v were manned by.

MR HAMPTON INTERVIEWED

WELLINGTON, May 1., .‘.‘Perhaps some of onr members are afraid that ’the Loco Association will get an advantage, which our Executive has not secured. That position was anticipated by my 'Executive and I can assure members of the A.S.R.S. that there is n<? possibility of anything like that happening. The Government is already wise to the fact that to bring about such an arrangement would only mean falling out of the frying pan into the fire.” / This significant statement was made this afternoon hy Mr Hampton, President of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, in an interview covering most of the important phases oF the railway dispute. Mr Hampton was isked whether the Prime Minister vas right in his statement that the igrcnment ended the strike, but not the relevances. “Ob yes,” said Mr Hampton, ‘that is quite true, although at the amo time of course, we hope that the

agreement made for fbe resumption of work will ultimately end the grievances *• of-the railwaymen. But if it does not, the position js safeguarded to the extent that the men have the right to declare war again.

“The trouble was brought about in our case by the position which the Prime Minister-took up in his reply to the Executive Council in which he practically said the General Manager should have the last word on what he termed the technical matters affecting the conditions in the service. We have always been prepared to negotiate with the. General Manager and try to come to terms, that think would be an ideal way of settling our disputes. But we can never accept the position that the General Manager’s word, in each and every instance, be accepted as final, without, the right of appeal to anyone else.

“The agreement which we have made gets over that position, and gives us the right to have the General Man# ager’s decision reviewed by an independent 1 tribunal. The arbitrator will not be solely selected by the- Prime Minister as he originally proposed in, his last communication, but will be a matter for negotiation, between Mr Massey and tbe Executive. ’‘We will start the hearing of the case when we’ both- agree that we have confidence in the arbitrator, which will we hope, be in a few days. It may be suggested that jt will be a- difficult matter to arrange; but personally, I do not expect any great difficulty in coming to, an agreement regarding the •chairmanship. “To keep thousands pf our own men out of employment and involving the enforced idleness- of thousands of other workers, together with the general inconvenience of the public would not. in my judginent, be justified. Consequently, my Executive hayc centred their attention in the meantime on a negotiation which would bring about an early resumption of a normal railwayservice and the reasonable prospect of better wages and conditions being aranged in tlie immediate future.

“Members of tbe A.S.R.S. can accept my assurance that the basis ofthe agreement for a resumption is a good one. It allows a full, fre.e and unrestricted disc-tfcsion of any matter whatsoever that we wish to discuss concerning railway Before the. tribunal to be set un.

“Regarding the telegrams from pier and Auckland, where members pf the A.S.R.S'. have refused to carry pu£ their Executive’s instructions to resume work, it is quite clear that the men there do not understand the position. My Executive endeavoured to get the E.F.O.A, Executive to agree to a combined representations on the matter. The Executive of the E.F.C.A. turned down absolutely this proposal and consequently the A.S.R.S. had no option but to make an agreement meeting their own point of view.” ■

-LOCO. MEN’S STATEMEN’j’.

WELLINGTON, This- Da;?. The President of the E.F. and C.A. (loco, men) states Mr McAiiey, their secretary, broke down on Saturday, 'and was ordered complete rest. As lie had the most'intimate knowledge of ;i (fairs they were not prepared to proceed without him, and therefore met Mr Malsey and signed an agreement. This provides for an independent tribunal of four members, two appointed by Government, and two by the men; two assessors to he appointed by each party, and each party to bo allowed an associate. •'

The result of the deliberations is to be submitted for approval to trie parties to the dispute. Thp Cpmrnissiop. to be set up within seven days.

It is to decide at what date the re? trospectiv© allowances should begin. No victimisation is to be practised. ; Finally the Commission is tp report on the claim of the E.F. and G, A. to lie the only body recognised by the Government as representing its menri bers.