LABOUR AFFAIRS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8406, 23 March 1916, Page 4

LABOUR AFFAIRS.

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

tilllJN'G IX ASHBUIITON

hi the Ashburton CourthoiLse this ltioriiinj;, .Mr .J. U. Tnggs, Conciliation coinini-MoiKT, prtsidccJ over a Mtung ol tijo Concilia Lion Council, when »«• dispuu' betwcwi vie Canterbury Timber i arcK , Sawmills', and Coal-yards' iMnpJoyotV Judnstijal Union ol \Vorkei's unu uic ompJoyers was dealt with.

J'iio „ .-ov^oih for the union were jicssis .jolm I'osur, (ioorgo V\ rhiiing, and ti. HuiiLcr, ana tor the employers, Ak'ssrs ijo.su ua J'ucicer, John Ar»yle, and l{. A. Collins.

I lie suucincui of claim asked i'or a 4J hour week; overtime to be'paid i'or at the rate ol timo-and-a-quariur lor the Jirst two hours and time-and-a-half" thereat tor; work done on Christmas J)ay, (Jood I'liday, and Sundays to be in'ajd at double rates; the recognised holidays shall bo iSow Year's Bay,' January 2, Good Friday, Easter Monday, the Sovereign's JJirfcliday, Labour Day, ■ Show J)ay, Anniversary Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. The minimum weekly wages asked for'were:— • First machinist £3 10s, other machinists £3 ss,' first sawyers £3 10s, other sawyers £ 355, tailers-out £2 18s. Carters: Drivers of one horse £2, 17s 6d, two horses £3 3s. Casual carters to.be,. paid at tho rate of Is 4^d per hour' for one lunvso and Is 6d for two horses. Yardmen, Labourers, etc.: Head yardman £3 10s, ordermen £3 3s, tallyman £3 3s, yard labourers £2 17.s 6d, casual labourers Is 6d per hour, -wood turners £3 6s, sash and door hands ,£3 6s. Apprentices: Wages to commence at .15s a week and rise to £2 per week after the fifth year. The general claiises set forth that no deduction bo made from wages for holidays or for any other cause except by the workers' own default or sickness. One week's wages to be* paid or one week's notice of dismissal given. In the event of any employer engaging any worker who is not a member of the union, and who within seven days of engagement does not becomo a member of tho union, the employer shall dismiss such worker if required by the union to do so. (The old award provided i'or 14 da^ rs). All clauses were discussed fully, and a comploto agreement arrived, at as follows: —Thp hours of work for all woikmen shall remain the same as in tho old award, also the holiday clause. Rate of wages: First-class machinist, Is od per hour (increase of Id from old. award;; second-class machinist, Is 3d. (increase oi \d) ; other workers on machines, ovit 21 years of age, Is lid ,(increase of id); iirst sawyer Is od (increase oi 2d), oLlkt .sawyers Is 3d (increase of Lid); tailors-out over the a,geof. 21 years ]s l^d (increase of \d) ; ' head yardman £3 3s per week (increase of 3s per week); ordcrman £2 15s (increase of 2s 6d); other yard workers bvor the ago of 21. years £2 10s (increase-, of > 2s); casual labourers Vs 2.U1 per hour (increase of Id. por liour); sawyers in coal yards' Is 2r]d (increase of Id).

It was agreed. that during the war" the lowes-t hourly rato of wages shall be (under clauses 4 and 5) Is 2d per hour. Where weekly wages are paid, the lowest weekly rate of wages shall' be £2 -12s. a .week: •

All KHWinillors ' engaged, in cutting plantation timber shall pay not less than the following wages:—Sawyers Is yd per hour, other workers Is 3jd per hour. They shall be exempt from.ordinary overtime rates, but not from holiday rates.

It was agreed that the Court's newaward, wjien made for the Canterbury' Drivers' Union, shall be embodied in this award where, it applies. The new award will remain in force until November 22. 1917. Similarawards throughout the Dominion are being arranged to expire at the same time, in, order to obtain a Dominion award.