NO WOMEN WANTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 976, 20 May 1930, Page 16

NO WOMEN WANTED

ENGINEERING UNIONS PROTEST DISPLACING MALE WORKERS The introduction of female labour into the manufacturing- sections of the engineering industry is strongly opposed by the Brassmoulders, Boilermakers and Iron and Steel Shipbuilders’ Unions. At a special meeting last evening the following resolutions were carried: “That these unions strongly protest against the action of the Arbitration Court in granting employers the right to make application to amend the Engineering Award, which was made for two years, and has been in operation for only six months; and that these unions also strongly protest against the action of the Ironmasters’ Federation in attempting to introduce female labour into the engineering industry.” APPLICATION FILED The resolutions are a protest against the application of the New Zealand Federated Ironmasters’ Association to amend the Engineering Award. This application, which has been filed by the Ironmasters’ Association, and is to be heard before Mr. Justice Frazer at Christchurch on June 18, seeks to obtain authority for the use of female labour in such work as viewing and examining, light drilling, light milling and grinding, light lathe work, assembling, soldering, packing and coremaking. The minimum rates of wages specified ensure a starting wage of 15s a week, and a wage of 44s a week after three years’ service. Copies of the union’s resolutions have been forwarded to the Minister of Labour, the Hon. W. A. Veitch, to the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. H. E. Holland, and to Mr. A. L. Monteith, the workers’ representative in the Arbitration Court. The unions argue that the lower wages that would be paid would displace numbers of men and aggravate the unemployed situation.