North-West Wages Dispute Continues
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A LTHOLTGH the North-Western .tlArea Conciliation Board has confirmed wage awards made by Sir Richard Redmayne, independent chairman of the National Board, and grad-: Log has been completed, disputes on wages in the north-west still continue., A circular which, it is stated, was. issued by the Amalgamated Horse and Motor Owners' Association, Ltd. (which has a large membership in south-east Lancashire), was under discussion at various meetings of employees in that area last week-end.
it is understood that the letter Midi= cated that there was an agreement between various employers in the Association, arid advised members who are employers to pay certain rates of wages. These figures are said to be several shillings a week below the rates fixed for the district, representing Grade Two wages, instead of Grade One which has been agreed by the Board; in addition holidays with pay and the guar. anteed week were not recognized.
A union official told The Commercial Motor on Tuesday last that many of the men were demanding an immediate strike unless the Endings of the Area Board, whichwere due to operate from October 1, are carried out. However, it appears that, in many instances, proper rates are already being paid,
Associated with the Amalgamated Horse and Motor Owners' Association are prominent employers' representa-, tives who, as reported in The cO.iiiMercia2 Motor dated July 17, resigned from the North-Western Conciliation Board. Later, certain of their number communicated. with the National Board, explaining their reasons for resignation and protesting against the position in their area. They said that they must refuse to accept responsibility for con.sequences of the unions driving their advantages unfairly when the employers' panel had given way on many points.
• " Qur proposals are similar to those of Yorkshire employers in adjoining districts," Mr. J. S. Howarth, secretary of the Amalgamated Horse and Motor. Owners' Association, told The Commercial Motor on Wednesday. "They have been adopted by those employers who resigned, from the employers' panel and have been agreed to at a meeting of employers in the district. Actually, they represent increases of 2s. to 7s. weekly on the rates in operation when the Boards were set up," he continued.
" It is true that the Board has agreed to Grade One wages, but, at the present time, the employers' panel is riot representative of south-east Lancashire. We want to agree to something we will and can carry out, As it is,' he added, "not 2 per cent, of the employers in the Manchester area are fulfilling their agreement."
It is understood that Wigan, Burnley and parts of East Lancashire are likely to be affected, as well.