CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 150, 25 June 1918, Page 2

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

GAS EMPLOYEES. COMBINED AWARD WANTED.

held l Ins morning In ileal with a dispute lik'd by tile Gas i;i:.ployees' futon. I tie .Nui-UiLoiu mid Klrkuuhead Gas Co., although iucluded in the case, have, it was stated, no dispute wan their employees. Tlie assessors lor the Gas Co. were Messrs A. 11. Atkinson, J. J. Rogers, uud Juiues Lowe, and lor the uuiuu of employees liost.rs 11. I'asseuu. -i. Is.. Stanley, and S. VVestou, with ill- .;. Clark as advocate. The demands of Uie uuluu were lor increased wages, overtime, prelerence, etc The hours asked wei* 47 per week. Overtime! time uud atalf until i) |i in., thereafter double lime, also double time on holidays. The minimum wugu asked for men was i-ii 10/ pur week, uud lor buys auu youths under Vi years Zo/ per week, 17 to IS years 30/ per week, Is to la years 37,(i. li) to 20 years 40/ yer week. The employers counter proposal stated they did not uccuric to the demands of I titunion. Tin: setiedule submitted by the employers wiu>: Hours lor meter, shop mull aud street lamp men, -IT hours pur week. complaint men 48 hours. The overtime offered was time and a-half and time and a- I|mirier iv npeeitliul braiiithes. Time aud a-half was also offered for Sundays aud holidays, uuy worker called after U p.m. to grt double time. The wages offered were: Meter repairers. 1/2* per hour, emuplaiut tiH'ii 1/2 per liour. drip pumpers V-. street lamp men iiu 11/ per week, meter waterers £2 13/ per week, and uutil three months after the declaration of peace a war bonus of one penny per hour was offered. The wages for youths were, -0/, :W, 'M/, 30/ per week. Mr T. Harle Giles. Conciliation Commissioner, saiil this appeared to be an application for one award to cover what was now Included in three awards connected with. gas companies. Mr l.owe said tbc employers wished to retain in any uew award similar classifications to those existing In the awards to be auDiTsedeil. Sir Ulles said It seemed a big stride for the union to ask for one wace. avart from any I'la.ssiliraiJon of the workers. Mr Clark said, as it whs, the labourers got more than some of the other workers. Mr C.4l<«: - 'r>o you mean to say the labourer In the Gas Company Is the boss sawyer in tbc matter of waKes?" Mr Clark sild that was about the poslMr I/owe said the companies could not go on with the dispute nnless there was classl-ti.-atiou of workers and consolidation of the conditions which obtained in the existing awards in regard to overtime, hours, otc. Mr Clark said that labourers fur the sas companies were not at present under any award, but" came automatically under the conditions' of the branch of work In which they might be engaged. Mr Lowe: "I don't consider that to be a fact, but I do uo» think I am called upon to make any explanation, still, when our labourers do work of certain trades they come under the terms of the particular award. We may lie willing to Include labourers in any award made, but we must have clas.sincat.ion of workers." After considerable discussion the union representatives asked for an adjournment In orde rto allow them to lay before, members certain points upon the crantlns of which the. employers were prepared to further consider matters In dispute. The Council accordingly resumed and ailjonrncd until July 11.