AUCKLAND STRIKE

Southland Times, Issue 18844, 9 June 1920, Page 5

AUCKLAND STRIKE

UNCONDITIONAL RETURN TO WORK. AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. UNION OFFICIALS' BLUNDER. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 8. The tramway strike is now off, and all the cars arc running to-night. The following official statement dealing with the settlement of the dispute has been issued: — On Wednesday, June 2, the secretary of the Tramway Union advised the Mayor that “race specials” would not be likely to be run by tiie tramway .men on the following day, the 3rd inst. The Mayor intimated that the Council could not relieve the men from such service, and that any failure on their part to carry out these portions of their duty would be considered by the Council as matter requiring disciplinary measures. The secretary advised the Mayor later in the day that several members of the tramway executive had been advised of the Mayor’s view, and understood the posit ion. On Wednesday, June 3, at 1.30 a.m., the general manager visited the Epsom barn on account of advice received that the men told oil for race traffic declined to perform these duties, and consequently the cars for such did not leave the barn. The Council viewed this as a direct challenge to the authority oMss management, and accordingly accepted the same, and also the consequent refusal of other men of the service to perform their ordinary work as a result of the earlier stoppage. The result was that on the morning of the 4th inst. the tramway services entirely ceased. The question which confronted the Council now was due recognition of the Coum cil’s authority, and due regard to the public interests by the earliest resumption of the service. This opened up the question as to the on which the men might resume work. In the course of the deliberations at tiie conference, the representatives of the trannvaymen asserted that the stoppage on the 3rd inst. arose owing to an unfortunate misunderstanding by the union officials in the interpretation of a communication between Auckland and Wellington, which led to an unintended action not in any way premeditated, and upon which interpretation the officers of the local union acted, but which subsequently

proved to be contrary to any intention on the part of the Dominion advisory board and was not in accord with the judgment of the local union. The circumstances precipitated the crisis before the same could be arrested, and once the first group of men had by their voluntary action left their jolts others in due course followed. The officers of the union express regret for their action, and the men desire the same to be considered apart altogether from their ordinary attitude to the service or the customaiy discharge 01 their duties. The men hereby give and the Council accepts an assurance that in future the tramway service will be operated in accordance with the terms of the agreement of May ■), 1020. and under the instructions of the management. The Council, on its part, in view of the position, has no desire M victimise the men, and it has been influenced by this to a settlement in terms as follows, taken in ronjunetioii with the foregoing statement, which will adequately establish the authority of the Council over the tramways and allow of the reinstatement of the service immediately. In its deci-inn (lie Council has had regard to the loss and inconvenience which is being imposed upon the public by the discontinuance of the service, and the fact that its suspension is not justified for a period beyond that necessary to establish the Council’s position. Having regard to all the circumstances, which have ban fully investigated, and in accordance with the foregoing statement, both parties hereby agree to a settlement of the ddilculty on the following terms, viz.: (1) The Council agrees that the men shall ret.uni to work forthwith, but they shall n<>t m-eive pay for the lime lost. (2 1 The men agree to perform all tramway duties, including rave tiafiic, which may from linn' to lime be allotted to them by the management. (Mi Tiiis set t lenient shall he operative forthwith and the terms of this memorandum shall be incorporated in ami become part of the agreement of May 4. IH2O. between the Council and the Tramway Cnion.