ENGINEDRIVERS' DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 16, 19 January 1916, Page 2

ENGINEDRIVERS' DISPUTE.

BEFORE CONCILIATION COUMCIX. HIGHER PAY AND SHORTER HOURS ASKED. .. :. . A sitting of the Conciliation Council was held at tlw Supreme Court to-day, ■when 152 firms were cited by the Auckland Certificated linginedrivere' Indnstrial union of Workers. Mr T. Harle Giles, Conciliation Commissioner, presided. The assessors for the Union were Messrs J. Read (Wellington), *JK Cain, and iT. Cochrane., and for blie employers, Messrs. W. J. Cousins, H. B. Coupe, and W. K. Pacey. Mr S. E. Wright represented the majority of the employers, and Mr A. Kosser appeared for the union. The claims of the union asked that tho week's work should be 46 instead of 4S . hours (under the old award), double time for cleaning flues, internally chip- | pin™ or cleaning 'boilers, or preparing; ' boilers for Government inspection. The i wages asked was 11/6 pe.r day, and 10/9 i per day, and where any worker wae required to get up steam when starting work, or bank fires when ceasing work, be paid 5/ per week additional. The employers counter proposals were that the existing award hv renewed, with ■ the exception that in clause 6. after the I .•word ".breakdown,"' the words '"or j 1 threatened breakdown" be inserted; with i regard to wage, 1/3 per hour be substituted for 10/ per day, and 1/11 per hour for 0/ per day (tho wages in the old award); also that the preference ulauses ibe deleted. Mr. Giles said no doubt the recent award for cHgmedfrivers made -hi ' Wellington on January 16th, would have I some bearing upon the present dispute. I The Commissioner then read an .application for exemption from the Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid .Board, I claiming exemption, on the grounds that lit was a charitable institution, and that iits engineer had a fortnights holiday on I full pay each year. Another claim for |fcxemption was put in by tho Thames "Valley - Dairy "Company, on the" ground that the plant at Kopu was run by the manager, who had a .certificate- Ai Pacthe sth of January, and was ready lor month, with free residence and firing, -•> ceived double pay on the four principal holidays, and a fortnight's- vacation on fui! pay each year. Mr. Wright applied for a.n adjournment on the ground that the notice had been too short. Mr. Cain eaid the dispute was filed on the sth of January, and were ready for posting on the otli. Mr. Wright said the question was when the notices were jiosteri. Several employers present stated they did not receive notice of the ease till January 10th. Mr. Giles said he arranged for 14 day*' notice to be given. Hβ admitted that nine days -was short notice. Mr. Wright pointed out that some local .bodies had not yet met since the vacation. The Commissioner said he could noaccept that as an argument, because special meetinga could be called; bat they could now consider applications for exemption. Mr. Wright applied for exemption in j4.h0,, fpllowin&.^ases: ~— .AW& lan fc.U!k v j Council (a3 per clause IS of present ; award;' XIII., 442, undertake- to pay j wages);, also the following -dairy factories; Ambury'B.Ltd., -Auckland Farmers' •Co.-op. Milk Supply, Cambridge Co-op. ; Butter Factory, Eureka Dairy Co.. Maunifratapere Co.-op. Dairy Co.,- K.Z. Dairy I Association, Ohura Co.-op. Dairy X.Z. I Packing Co., Piopio Co.-op. Dairy Co., lEagian Dairy Co.. Ruawai J)airy Co., i Thames Valley Dairy Co., Tc Aroha : Dairy Company. Whanearei Co.-op. J Dairy Co., Waikato Co.-op. Dairy ■ Co.,' and Auckland Electric Tramways j Co.. total as in present award): Aucki land Farmers' Freezing Co. (total as in i present award); Auckland Gas Co. (total !as in present award); Auckland Harbour i Board (exemption except for wages); iS. Fnllcrton (re threshing); Kempj thorne, Prosser Co. (for continuous (shifts); X.Z. Portland Cement Co. (total Jor provided rates are paid); Wilson'e j Portland Cement Co. (total or provided ! rates are paid); N.Z. Paper Mills (as per present award. XTII.. 442) ; Hellaby, Ltd. md Waikato Bacon Co. An application was also made for exsmption of Mount Roskill Road Board md the Waihou Valley Dairy Co. Mr. Clayton claimed that tihe Soutli Aucjdand timber mills should have a chance to be represented, and the notice was too short for their representatives to be present. Mr.»Wright, speaking for dairy fac tories, asked why they should for the first -time be included in the -award. Mr. Rosser said they wnre included ir the new WellingtoTi award. Theunior objpeted to so many exemptions beinf madfi. The .abject was to secure foi engine drivers, in any industry, th< minimum rate of pay under the award Mr. Rosser pointed out that the dairj companies so far Jrad no»auard. Mr. Wright said the dairy companies .could not keep the iours of work aslcec for in the clahn. ■ The employees gel amraal holidays on full pay. A certaii amount of Sunday work hail to be. done .If this award was enforced it -wquU mean men being- discharged in elac! times instead of Jhalving. contiriuoui work. Mr. Pacey said engine drivers ii dairy factories had £3 per week fo continuous work, wiKh privDeges tha made it about equal to the rates of asked, bat the hours and pay for Sunda; •work,-Bras a'serious-matter: "In'nisi times dairy factories worked long'hour and shorter ones in the qniet times. The discussion re exemptions lastei until the Council adjourned.