SYDNEY LABOUR TROUBLE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12849, 6 July 1907, Page 9

SYDNEY LABOUR TROUBLE.

EMPLOYERS' IUEPLY TO THE LUMPERS' DEMANDS. United Frees AwocUtion—By ElMtoe Tel»gr«pb—Copytigkt. (Received July sth, 11.17 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 6. The Conference on the Goal Lumper* , difficulty resumed to-dny. After some fencing regarding tho question of working with certain nonunion foremen, the chairman of the Lumpers' Union declared that if the Conference proved abortive the responsibility would rest on the shoulders of the employors. The employers' reply to the moa'e demands submitted on Wednesday was then read. It etitted that the steam collier Owners and stevedores' Association had decided that all foremen should bo appointed by, and be absolutely under Mo jurisdiction of the employers, end ceaso to be members of the Coal Lumpers' Union. Thej declined to grant any increase for night overtime, but would raise tie pay to 2s 3d an hour for Saturday afternooh. They promised to restrict Sunday work as much a s possible, compatible with oarrying on the work of the port. They acceded to the request that no Work be dono during meal hours. The; declined to grant full rates for the time men wero kept waiting, but if men were ordered to a job, and were not requirod, they were willing to gite each disappointed man 6s, and where order* ed to a job which did not commence et the hour stated, to pay that hourly wage until the work began, oi the men were cent home. They agreed to make eight yards the limit for two carriers instead of sovon. They asked that if these proposals were aooepted an agrccmont should be drawn up, asking the Arbitration Court to vary the awards in accordance therewith. The Conference adjourned to allow the lumpers' delegates to consider the proposals. The Conference reassembled, and the employers' spokesman, in reply to * question, eaid theeo were the employers' final proposals. Tho Conference adjourned until Monday. The delegates in the meantime will place tho employers' proposals before the Coal Lumpers' Union.