DISPUTE AT OTIRA TUNNEL WORKS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14306, 18 March 1912, Page 7

DISPUTE AT OTIRA TUNNEL WORKS.

THE MEN AT "THE FACE" CEASE WORK. (firErr.u, to " tht: prfss."! GREYMOUTH. March 17. The Otira tunnel has become the scene of another industrial trouble, caused by a dispute as to what constitutes a "wot place." From what can be gathered locally it appears that the men engaged at tho tunnel works belong to a branch of the West Coast General Labourers' Union, which i*s affiliated to the New Zealand Federation of Labour, which, as is well knpwn, readily eschews the Arbitration Court. This attitude, indeed, appears to bo tho foundation of the present crisis. Tho Court's award expired towards the end of last year and in accordance with the nolicy of the Federation, the Union , did not apply for a new agreement, recognising that the men could hardly expect tho Court to further improve their conditions of employment, which are quite up to the standard generally obtaining in this district. Still, however, the Union appointed delegates to confer with the management. A deadlock was soon reached, as both eides refused to deviate from tho TXisitions they had taken up in regard to tho bank-to-bank principle, and "wet places/ The controversy over tho latter point led to an important development last week. The rulo which it is understood the management desired to continue was to mako six hours the length of work in a wet place, the men being paid as though they had worked eight hours. The men, however, objected to a continuation of this and peremptorily demanded that only four hours, for which 5J hours should be paid, should be worked when wet conditions obtained at the face. The management resented this attitude, and warned tho men that if they did not work the six hours they would bo paid off. This was disregarded. Four hours were worked, and when the men came out they were paid off and the two other shifts did not go in to work and

consequently work at the faco camo to a standstill. Tho men stato that thoy do not want a strike. Work in wet places is paid for at a higher rate than any jobs in tho local mines, but it is understood that the scale obtaining at Otira is on a moro liberal basis. The Mines Act does not apply to the tunnel work, and tfla men? demand that tho provisions of that Act-relating to work in wet.places be enforced at tho tunnel, but the management declines, as this would mean reducing tho time of work at tho faco by 25 minutes. The union has referred tho whole dispute to the Federation of Labour, but it will probably bo some days bcforo a conference can bo held. Tho present trouble ap)>ears to bo confined to tho ' : faco " men.