DEADLOCK WITH UNION

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 746, 20 August 1929, Page 1

DEADLOCK WITH UNION

BOARD BREAKS RELATIONS WITH TRAMWAYMEN TROUBLE OVER RESOLUTION “There is no declaration of war on anyone,” said Mr. J. A. C. Altum, chairman of the Transport Board this morning, in replying to a statement that the board had virtually declared war on the Tramwaymen’s Union over the deadlock which has arisen in regard to the demand of the board that the union should expunge a certain minute from its books. The trouble has been going on for several weeks, and began when the board called upon the union to expunge a resolution passed by a mass meeting of employees, “viewing with strong disapproval the action of certain union members in lending their assistance to the board in cases taken up by the union.” The reference was

to what was known as the Massicks case, in which certain union members were prepared if necessary to give evidence against a fellow-employee. A deadlock resulted when the board asked the union to go to arbitration, but this the employees declined to agree to, and the board-in-committee a week ago recommended to open board this morning the following course, which, after strong opposition by three members, was adopted: “That the union, having persisted in its interference with the staff in itej duty to the board, and having refused to refer the matter to an impartial authority for decision, the board hold no further communication with the union until It is prepared to adopt a proper attitude, and the board accordingly recalls the assessors appointed to negotiate for the proposed new agreement.” “We are. certainly going over the odds if we adopt such a recommendation,” said Mr. F. S. Morton. “We are going to create a lot of trouble for ourselves. By forcing the pace we are going ta force a crisis, and I think the board is ill-advised to adopt the recommendation.” Mr. E. J. Phelan thought the board was only looking for trouble. It was advised that the union’s resolution was illegal, but since, it had found the minute was not illegal. It should mind its own business and not interfere with the domestic affairs of the union, • The board’s solicitor, Mr. J. Stanton, said there had been some misunderstanding.' He had not been asked to give a written opinion. The question of the minute had been referred to him at a board meeting and he had advised that if the resolution was a criminal offence it was provided for in the Crimes Act, which made it a crime for any person to endeavour to prevent any one from giving such evidence as he might be entitled to give. This was a very serious offence and covered by a heavy penalty. “I had advised the board that if the union's resolution was a criminal offence it was its duty to take criminal proceedings. If the resolution was not a criminal offence it came very near the border-line, and it was the duty of the board to point it out to the union,” said the solicitor. The board had never instituted proceedings, continued Mr. Stanton, and he had never advised the board that |it was its duty to do so. The board was entitled to expect a full and free statement from any employee in regard to their employment or any other matter connected with the board’s work. Mr. E. H. Potter was not in accord with the recommendation. He considered negotiations should be resumed with a view to the completion of an agreement with the union. Mr. A. J. Entrican moved an unsuccessful amendment that any future working agreement between board and union be based on an award of the Arbitration Court. The chairman said the board would not tolerate even the semblance of interference by anyone, either an individual or a corporate body. “The Massicks case is an attempt to draw the herring across the trail,” stated Mr. Allum. “As it happens, no 1 evidence was called by the board in ; that appeal.” 1 The door was open and had not been . slammed in the face of the union. The i board merely intended to say “You : will either explain or go to arbitra- ’ tion.” Mr. Allum hoped no undue iml portance would be placed on the trouble. There would be no punishI ment to the men and no crisis would II arise. * Mr. Phelan: Wait and see.