TRAM STRIKE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1932, Page 6

TRAM STRIKE

TRIBUNAL’S DICISION

ACCEPTED BY BOARD.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, May 16

The Tramway Board has accepted the Chairman of the Tribunal, (Mr Donnelly’s) decision, the main points of which are:—

(1) The Board shall, as soon a.s possible select for permanent employment suitable and efficient new men up to, but not exceeding sixty in number. There are 117 new men now. In making the selection the Board shall require a high standard of proiTpse and efficiency from the new men It selects. I make this stipulation, because it was admitted 1 by the Board that the men dismissed, prior to, the strike were competent, and had good records and were dismissed by reason of retrenchment and for no other reason.

(2) After making the above selection the Board shall complete the normal staff by selection from members of the, Union now on strike, including the President of the Union, and other men dismissed just before the strike, and shall not'go outside, members of the Union for that purpose.

(3) In addition to completing normal staff as above set,out, the Board shall give .temporary employment to twenty men, from members of the Union tor a period between the present time ana d’ate of the new agreement with the Union, which agreement must ,soon lie made.

In my opinion, the charge of victimisation brought against the Executive officers of the. Board has failed in every case, except that of the President of the Union, and in his case it was not proved that the President as paid- of the duties of his office has been the agent of the Union, in urging Union claims upon tfie Board, and it was admitted that, he wafc .competent and. liis rcctord was practically indistinguishable from that of any other mail in the, service. ‘ The Board was wrong in dismissing the President when it did, because it .was then in .serious conflict with the Union and should have foreseen what did actually happen, namely, that a charge of victimisation would be made, which in the circumstances could neither be proved by the Union, nor refuted by the Board.”

Mr Donnelly adds—“lf the, temper of both sides at the earlier conferences had been as moderate as before the; Tribunal, I believe the dispute would have been settled without a strike.”