TRADE AND LABOUR NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 114, 13 May 1920, Page 9

TRADE AND LABOUR NOTES.

(By INDUSTRIAL TRAMF.) i UNION MEETINGS FOR THE "WEEK. IMS Evening, May 13—Farriers, Enginedrivers (special), Boilermaker! (committee). Friday, liay 14—Curriers.Saturday, May 15—Freezing Works' Employees. Blonday, 'May 1" —Labonrers (committee), Farnitnre Trades, Hairdreseers, Cutters and iPresaens. Tuesday, May 18—Carpenters, Plumbers. Wednesday, May 19—Bootmakers (committee),. General I/abourers, Plasterers. TOO PREVIOUS. Last week, in the columns of the daily press, a paragraph appeared under the. heading "Tramway Officers—Want £2j Per Week Increase," that has- caused! rather a bit of trouble amongst the men concerned, and I am naked to state the facts ac they stand. It must; be" clearly understood that the particulars contained in the paragraph has not i emanated from the Tramway Officers' Union, but is the opinion of an individual. The fact is that the question of ■ the increases to be applied for hae not! yet been considered by the union, co | that the phrase nsed further on in the j paragraph, "and the City Council has | been notified accordingly," is written in | a prophetic vein, for until the union has' formulated the schedule of increases; wanted, no notification can be cent to the City Council. At the time of writing j (Wednesday) a special meeting has been called for this. evening to consider the -whole question of increases, and when these have been settled application will ■be made to the City Council by corres-) pondence. IAUCKLAXD HARDWARE DISPUTE. A dispute by the Auckland Hardware Assistants' Union was filed last month, and the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. ¥. Hally) has fixed Tuesday, June 8, at 10 a.m., as the date for hearing. ■ POSITIONS REVERSED. Rather an unusual dispute came before the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. P. Hally) on Monday last in the shape of an application for a new award in the plumbing trade, filed by the Auckland Master Plumbers' Union with the workers' union named as respondents, instances of this kind are few and far betweeen in the annals of the Arbitration Court; in fact, come years . ago, -when Mr Justice Sim wee president of the Court, and, an'application, for an award* made by employers in an industry came Jjefore the Court, his Honor made come xatEer caustic remarks on the onnraml position of the parties. "Why do you make the application?" asked the President, "there ie already an. award in force, and as long as the workers. , union' Jβ satisfied to continue to work under that award, why not let well alone T There are quite enough applications from the workers' side without employers faking the initiative.-" In the plumbera' dispute on Monday it was easily seen that the applicants were new to their unusual position, for when the dispute was called there were no'aaeeeBore present on behalf of the respondents, . owing to the fact that ; the workers' union had not received any notice to neither had they receivedthe intimation to appoint assessors and to furnieh a copy of counterproposals to submit to the Conciliation To relieve ""the hiatus arrived at by the fact that "someone had blundered," the Commissioner adjourned the hearing of the dispute till Friday, May 21, and in the Tnrantimo the workers' union are to receive a copy of the employers' claims, and have an opportunity to file counter proposals and elect assessors.

iLuL AND ROAD WORKERS. The Minister of Public Works (Mr. Coatee) had a long interview on Tuesday with representatives of the workers on railway and road construction in different parts, of the country. The -principal' demands submitted Were as follow: — ,;•. *'. '. Hours of Work. —That a 44-hour week be considered a full working week, the hours of work" shall be between 8 ajn. and 5 p.m. on five days of the week. Work to cease at noon on Saturday, except in the case of men working in wet places, then the hours of work: shall be cix hours per day, and shall be paid for as if eight hours had been worked. In cases that, are considered wet, the workers' check inspector shall define what is a wet place. In case any dispute arises as to what is a wet place the matter shall be arranged by the check inspector and the foreman, should they fail to-agree the matter shall be settled by an arbitrator selected by the parties

.{concerned. ; Bates of Pay.-f-The wages shall be 18/ per day, but should the Government (1) provide dry cantecne as hereafter provided for in these demands, or -where canteenp are impracticable; (2) carry commodities for workers free of cost on railways from the four chief centres and Undertake their distribution to the camp, then the wages shall be 15/. per- day. , Tunnel Workers.—"Wat tunnel workers be paid £1 per day, bat should the Government provide a dry canteen as hereinbefore mentioned,. then wages shall be 17/ a day. Overtime,—All time worked/before 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m. ehall be paid for' ac time and a-half rates, but all work performed on Saturday afternoons,' Sundays, and statutory.. holidays shall be paid for at dbub'le rates. ; Travelling Time.—Travelling time to be paid both ways when the distance exceeds one mile. V Government Supplies. —Dry canteens lo be established on all P.W.I), works* all ■ commodities and necessities' of life to be I supplied on the job at the Board of Trade wholesale prices. The union to take the responsibility of protecting the Government against loss, but where impracticable, the workers' commodities to be carried free of cost from the four chief cities, the Government to undertake ' the distribution. . - c ' Co-operative Work. —That the present co-operative system continue, providing that it Las a corresponding increase on present scheduled rates, but where workers do not earn the current daily :*age they shall receive an amount ac par be necessary to bring their earnings •Uμ to the daily wage. In the.event of • »ny dispute arising in connection with this clause the same shall be decided by ,the check inspector and the engineer. Jailing a settlement, the clause regardIng wet places to .apply. '■■:-■■■ Shifting Time.—All time occupied in .; erecting tents or shifting camp shall.be

. Paid for at current rates. . • Horse public works where Wees are employed,, each horse employed in tunnels and cutting works •tail be paid for at the.rate of 10/ per W, but 12/ per day: shall be paid for T '«aca horse' iri teams employed , - out on the >otd. ■>i Slips and Waahaways. —In tbe event r M » waahaway or accident requirinf the

services of men working continuous hours, refreshments such as tea, coffee, and food shall be supplied or provided by the ganger or officer in charge, at the expense of the Government.

Provision of Tools.—That all tools be provided free by the Government to all Public Works employees, excepting carpenters and engine-drivers, the latter to receive a tool allowance of 2/ per week. All tools to be kept in proper repair by the Government. (2) all planks, plant, points, rails, frogs,, etc., to be of good quality and design, the same to be placed within one chain of the job. Payments.—Pays to be made fortnightly, and no more than six days' pay to be retained by the Government. Holidays.—That all Public Works employees, including pieceworkers, be granted all statutory holidays, together with two weeks' annual holiday, at j scheduled rates, and in conjunction -with the annual holiday the Public Works employees shall receive a free railway pass from station to station, and a •ingle journey pass to their home station, and the Minister to strictly adi minister the regulatio. s governing (holidays. .

Medical Attendance.—That a doctor, nurse, and a cottage hospital be provided on aU P.W.D. works. Until such are provided, a qualified first-aid man be placed on the job, and suitable outfits furnished, in accordance with the conditions obtaining at Huarau. There were demands also for improved housing conditions, better sanitation, the provision of bathing accommodation, and drying rooms, similar to those already provided at certain works.

Mr. Coatee said that conditions for workers would have to be improved, and he realised this fully. Hie whole aim and object would be to give the union conditions which would nake the workers reasonably content