OPERATIVE BAKERS’ UNION

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 443, 5 February 1890, Page 3

OPERATIVE BAKERS’ UNION

Auckland, Jan. 27. The members of the above Union met on Saturday evening, in Robson’s Rooms, for the purpose of nearing the rules for their future guidance read, and so well satisfied were they with the result of the Committee’s efforts in framing the rules that they adopted them unanimously, and without discussion. Messrs Freeman and Stevenson were appointed delegates to represent the Union on the Trades and Labour Council. Messrs Young and Sha_w were appointed trustees, to act in conjunction with the Treasurer in the safe custody of all money and other property of the Union. The Secretary was authorised to have the rules printed forthwith. With reference to the rules, the Secretary read the following brief address: —“To the Members of the Auckland Operative Bakers’ Union. Gentlemen, —In drafting these rules your Committee have strenuously endeavoured to avoid introducing any element of discord, or to adopt any rule that is at all likely to meet with opposition from any employer who has the least spark of generosity, humanity, fair play, or justice in his composition. If one is to judge by the recent arbitrary action of one or two employers, there will no doubt be some who will arrogate to themselves the right to carry on the old system of slavery to the bitter end, treating the poor unfortunates who are unlucky enough to be compelled to labour for them as mere machines, only fit to be worked to their utmost capacity for as many hours as it is possible for poor humanity to stand ; whilst others—and, we believe, the majority —will no doubt readily acquiesce in what appears to us to be only the barest modicum of justice, seeing that we have not interfered with the present early hour of starting in some shops, but merely endeavoured to define a fair day’s work. It will be noticed that the question of wages has not been seriously interfered with, believing as we do, that in the present state of trade it would _ not be advisable to look for any great increase, although we are aware of individual instances where workmen are very inadequately remunerated for their arduous labour. These two questions therefore being in our opinion the only stumbling block between employer and employee, having been most generously treated by us, we confidently hope our humble endeavours will meet with the approbation alike of our fellow operatives and at least a majority of employers. In the event of there being any employer so obstinate or inhumane enough to disregard our appeal for what appears to us to be a mere pittance of justice, it will be incumbent on us as a body to adopt some method of fsetting such before a discriminating public in a true light.—l am, etc., John Biknie, Hon. Sec., on behalf of the Committee.”