ONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16315, 12 September 1918, Page 5

ONCILIATION COUNCIL.

SHIFT ENGINEERS' DISPUTE.

Mr W. H. Haggar, Conciliation Commissioner, presided at a meeting of . the' Conciliation Council yesterday morning, when there was heard a dispute between the Christchurch Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers' Union (shift engineers' section) and the employers. The Union's assessors were Messrs Charles Pooler, E. Day, and N. Ortou, and the agent, Mr J. Elsdon. The employers were represented by Messrs H. J. Otley, Cyrus J. R. Williams, and F. J.kNeedham.

The chief demands of the Union were as follows:—Forty-eight hours shall constitute a week's work, divided into six shifts of eight hours each. Shifts shall revolve week-

ly or fortnightly, and bo so arranged as. to allow each engineer one week on day shift in each three. The minimum rate of wage to be paid shall be £5 ss. Three weeks' leave on full pay shall bo allowed .annually, and at least one week's notice shall be given when leave is taken. Reasonable provision shall be made for washing and dressing, with separate lookers and facilities for obtaining boiling water. Two_ shillings per day or part.of a day extra for dirty work. An engineer on watch shall at all times remain in effective charge while the machinery is running. Matters not provided for shall be as. in the engineers' award. The employers submitted as a oountor-pro-posal the pre seat conditions. The Chris tchurch Drainage Board applied for exemption, on the grounds that they were not employing men on shift engineering work. The' Lyttelton Harbour Board also applk'i for- exemption, and it was granted, in these two cases, with the provision that os '6oon as either employed nien on work ■ ooverod by the proposed award they should automatically come under its provisions. i The Christchurch Tramway Board was, granted exemption from all but the wages | and overtime clauses of the proposed award. Other applications for exemption were put forward on behalf of the Canterbury Frozen Moat Company, the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, and T. Borthwick and Sons, Ltd. It was contended that the "shift engineers employed x by these parties ■ wero salaried men, and held responsible positions, and it would be detrimental to the public interest that they should be under the con-

trol of a union. The«e applications were refused, and the representative of the ■ companies mentioned then—put forward a fresh application for their exemption on the grounds that their engineers were already covered by the en-gine-drivers' award. It was decided that any recommendations made by the. Council should only apply to thoeD engineers holding higher grade certificates than ordinary first and eecond-olasa engine-drivers' certificates. The Chriatchureh City Council applied for exemption from the preference clause of the award. The application wae refused. Considerable objection waa taken to the definite arrangement of. shifts proposed by the Union, it being pointed out that breakdowns in machinery, illness," and holidays would make it practically impossible to rigidly observe them. Mr Williams suggested that the shifts be arranged by mutual consent in such a manner as to revolve weekly, the working week to be 48 houre. This suggestion was agreed to. The clause regarding the engineer in charge being in effective charge while machinery is running waa referred to the Arbitration Court. _ _ There was considerable discussion on the question of annual leave, and eventually it was decried to refer the matter to the Arbitration Court. ... It waa unanimously agreed to adopt the clause in regard to accidents. The wages question was again put before the Council. _ . Mr Elsdon 6aid that the Union was prepared to discuss a minimum. On behalf of the employers Mr Needham offered a minimum as in the engine-drivers' award. Otherwise he would prefer to go to the Court. The Commissioner suggested that the mini-, mum should be JE4 10a. Ur Williams said that the Dunedin minimum in the class of engineers under discussion'was £i 13s 6d. At this .'stage the Union representatives withdrew for a private consultation. On their return Mr Elsdon said that they could not accept Mr Needham's proposal. It was decided to refer the wages clause to the Arbitration Court. The' accident clause was agreed to. It was decided that the award should operate for two years from the time of the Arbitration Court's decision.