PLACEMENT SERVICE.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 370, 26 February 1937, Page 3

PLACEMENT SERVICE.

“Carrying Out Splendid Work.” Mr P. M. Butler, secretary of the Municipal and General Workers' Union (incorporating labourers’ and related trades), stated on Saturday last that there appeared to be misconceptions regarding the functions of the State Placement Service, particularly in regard to membership of workers in unions.

Speaking on behalf of his union, Mr Butler said that the State Placement Office was carrying out splendid work, the service filled in a longfelt Want. The union realised the importance of the work and had no complaint regarding its methods. The union did not expect the Placement Office to be a recruiting agent for union members. The function of the office should be one of strict impartiality, and as far as he could see, it was endeavouring to re main strictly impartial, devoting its energies to seeking work and fitting workers into respective positions.

After the Placement Office had introduced a workman to a prospec-1 five employer, the other matters concerning award?, etc., then became the concern of the employer, the wofker, and the union. Some employers had the impression that because a Government office had sent them a workman, that the onus lay on that office regarding the rates of remuneration and’ general provisions of awards. He desired to point out thatst the fact that a. workman had been sent from the State Placement. Office did not relieve the employer from his. responsibilities under an award or agreement. If employers desired to be clear on their responsibilities, all they had to do was to ring the Department of Labour,, or the union which governed the particular class of work proposed to be undertaken, and they would be advised on the correct course to adopt. If the Placement Office was expected to be a recruiting agent for the union, the employer? might lose confidence in it; on the other hand, if the Placement Office was expected by the employers to relieve them of their responsibilities, the unions and the workers would lose confidence in it.

Mr Butler said that his union had the greatest admiration for the work being carried out by the Placement Office, and did not intend to emlmrras? it in any way. All. employers were not expected to be conversant with the details of all awards, but the onus lay on them to see that they were observed, and full information was available to them from the Department of Labour and the trade unions, which would gladly advise them on any points at issue. Briefly, the position as he saw it, was as follows: —1 The- Placement Office brought prospective employers and workers together. 2 After the introduction, it was the duty of the union and the employer? to see that the- conditions of the awards were observed.