STRIKE AGAINST AWARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1922, Page 5

STRIKE AGAINST AWARD.

SEQUEL TO LOWER WAGES. FREEZING WORKERS PENALISED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Hastings, Last The Magistrate to-day read the ©pin-, ion of the Arbitration Court in a case stated by the Magistrate between the inspector of awards and four local freezing works employees, in which an action was brought against each defendant to recover £lO penalty for becoming a partner to a strike, such employees being bound by an award. The Court held that if an employer gives notice that wages are to be reduced after a specified date the workers have the right to' regard their engagement as terminated, but in the case of workers employed at award rates the position is different. Where a contract of service incorporates award rates it must be deemed subject to variation in regard to wages, hence a variation in the rate of wages by order of the Court is a variation contemplated by a contract of service at award rates, and does not involve termination of a contract of service. The fact that an employer does not immediately enforce the order of the Court, so long as he does not by his conduct lead his workers to believe he intends to continue to pay wages at a higher rate, does not alter the position. Judgment was given for '£3 against each defendant.