RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

Otago Witness, Issue 4028, 26 May 1931, Page 65

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

COMPLAINT BY WORKERS. EFFECT OF WAGES CUT. STRATFORD, May 22. A deputation from the Tangarakau railway construction workers placed their ease before the Chamber of Commerce at a special meeting. The deputation pointed out that the cessation of the work was not a strike, but a lock-out. The men were given six days’ notice to terminate the old contracts and accept new ones embodying cuts of wages, said Mr W. Cai ,p--bell, one of the speakers. They considered the reduction unfair, but had offered to continue on day wages till some arrangement with the department could be made. This offer had been refused. The Government passed legislation in connection with a 10 per cent, cut, but on works such as those at Tangarakau the cuts ranged from 10 per cent, to as much as 50 per cent., the average outside man suffering to the extent of 37J per cent. Mr Campbell quoted the case of a man on contract whose earnings in 1930 amounted to £212. Under the reduction the man, who bad a wife and family, would receive only £l7O for 12 months. That was a man who had put in the maximum time possible. “Do you wonder we refused to accept such terms,” Mr Campbell asked. The men did not want to hinder the progress of the work, and would go back to-morrow on day wages. “We are prepared to accept a 10 per cent, reduction, but cuts up to 50 per cent, we consider unjust, and evidence that we have been singled out for special reductions,” said Mr Eade, another speaker. He suggested that a tribunal be set up to go fully into the question, as the workers bad no Arbitration Court to which they could apply. The chamber will consider the matter at its next meeting.