The Timber Workers
Maoriland Worker, Rōrahi 12, Putanga 212, 19 Kohitātea 1921, Page 9
Mō tēnei niupepa
The Timber Workers
OHUTU STKIKE The strike at Ohutu has Work Was resumed on the basis pt the conditions published in last week's issue of The Worker, "The question of wagea has still to:be tittermined, and this by. Mr. P. Haliy, Government tion Commissioner.v who at the times ol writing is making the investigation, The Head, Office hopef to be at>le to print next week the cpmplete terms of settiemeiitn moneys icollected to, aid the strikerft must be sent.tp Head Office immedi ■iately. v :?i o
PROFIT-SHABINCf
The Head Office is in receipt of a belated report sent in byComrade V. F. Dengate concerning some discussions at the Selwyn" Tinjber» Company's mill at Mangatapu, between ike employers and tjie workers on the proposal to. introduce, profit-sharping. i-> It appears that qtt 'Octo'oer 2 last the men were invited; by 'iVEr W: Mc- Arthur, director, to a ineeting -to consider a bonus plan b£.sed on profit-sharing 'which" the. cbiii^any•'- virished to put into opeiatipn; aa from October. 1.. A good, attendance gathered together, and thoiie' preiserit were r aYldressed by Mr. McArth'vir, who in the course of his said.. lie would like to .receif 6 guggeßtions from the employees be.' p.lSced before a committee represanting :tfi.e company and .the workers, Ithe workers to elect their 'representatives. His scheme was based on profit-sharing, and he expected to. pay a bonus of 25 per cent., perhaps 30 per on the' present rates: of per cent, of this bon.us' was th&o ■h& paid at the end of three months and the balance, 25 per/cent., at the end of twelve months. He explained that the profits would be. augmented by securing the most from the timber. With the aid of'ahother hawler more timber could be /put through, and if more bush coiild be secured it would prolong the "life of the mill, and instead of the mill having to be paid for in three years the cbst would be spread over a longer'period thus allowing more' N pi-o!Qt in' quence. Profits .would also accrue from a lesser (tharge for. depreciation. At the conclusion.of ..Kis address Mr. McArthur answered seVeral questions, and it was decided by tlie nien to hold a meeting for the purpose oi going further into the: proposals and of making suggestioTXSv for the/ Mprovement of the scheme ptitined. This meeting was held the follo.w-, ,ing day, and certain decisions w fere arrived at. On Octobei? s, another meeting was held, and the undermentioned decisions were come to: (1) This meeting uiianlnidusly agrees to accept the scheme of bonus profit-sharing as put forward by Mrv McArthur of a probable bonus of 25 perhaps 30 per cent.,, or more ■•;oa the present rate tif wages. (2) This meeting .unanimously agrees to a flat rate being adopted. (3 That "the flat rate be the amount; of profit divided by the total nuin% ber of hours woi'ked by all (who are entitled to the bonus), and the resuit multiplied by the number of hours each "individual has worked. (4) That no bonus be. paid to em-; ploy.oes working less than- month. (5) That voluntary, lost- tinie and overtime be not entitled;.to bonus; except overtime on' necessary repair work on a breakdown. (6) That no bonus be, deducted in the event of sickness or -accident. (7) That profits be divided monthly, if possible (8) That any monthly, quarterly, or annual bonus owing to any cm T ployee at date of "leaving the company's employ be forwarded on to him. (9) That Messrs-. Kerr and V. W. Eather be the workers' representatives on the committee. It was at this mill that a vote o£ 28 to 0 was cast in .favour of the N.Z.W.U. as against thY Arbitration Unions of Messrs. 'J v Read and Phelan. The wages at the mill are: Pacific benclnnan, £8/10/- a week; Turnar-down, 18/- a day; on lever, IS/-; Breaking down head, £1; Breaking tail, 16/-; Breast bench'man, Tailer out, Timber goose; Slab goose, 16/--a day; Planer. £1; Engine driver, £1; Engine loco, £1/3/-; Slip truck, IG/-; Slip truck, 17/-; Yard hands, IG/- to 18/6; Bushmen, £1; aiid platelayers, 16/-. THE GISBOK>E aiETHOB A: A. Jarlow, writes; "As you know we tried some time baclc with the help of Pi-ank Langstonc t-e fix a working agreement with our employers, but 'the conference proved abortive, the bosses referring us to their "Arbitration Court.' 'This reply has seemingly satisfied the' men at Motuhora, but the Matawai men discussed action, and the result, of their deliberations is that- they formed a company on the lines of true cooperation and BOUGHT THE. BOSS OUT.- That is certainly one way,of settling disputes with the boss, and whether right or wroug will af least give us a chance to prove' by practical demonstration whether workers can or cannot run the business with-, out the boss."
