LABOURERS' AWARD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8270, 15 October 1915, Page 2

LABOURERS' AWARD

CASE BEFORE CONCILIATION COUNCIL. N(Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, October 14. There were unusual features in proposals that were placed -before the Conciliation Council this, morning by the assessors for the General Labourers' Union.. The , task, that confronted the Council was the framing of a i newaward for the coal, lime, and'cement workers. This particular section of the General Labourers' \ Union = comprises about! 20^per cent.- of tne'membership of the -union. The usual-proposals were recognition of a 40-hour week (as against. .48 hours), aridv a suggestion that the rate of wages should be fixed at 2s per hour for handling lime, cement and wool, and. Is 5d for all other work in this section. The parties to the dispute were the General Labourers' Union on the one hand and on the other side stich employers as employ labourers to handle coal, lime, sand, and so on. Some 218 employers .were cited.; ■ v/:- . ;; :;.;..■.-.'.;.*■,■■■.■■■■,' '

Counter proposals by the employers were on the lines of the existing award, with one or two exceptions. The Commissioner remarked that the proposals of the union included some features which were different from any that he had ever come, across before. ' The union asked for a 40-hour week and for a considerable increase in wages. They also asked for some conditions j which he thought would be found to be not applicable to this, 'award.'' The Commissioner pointed out that the onus of proving the reasonableness of the claims rested upon the union. These "double-barrelled" claims,, fewer hours and more wages, had never been entertained by the Court in the past, and here were double-barrelled claims with | a vengeance. Ho suggested that the t union might consider the position and possibly waive the "clause about a reduction in hours. There was certainly no hope whatever of any satisfactory i solution of the case as it stood. The ! Court would not deal with it. The council went into committee to consider the position and endeavour to reach a satisfactory compromise.