STEWARDS' AWARD.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17613, 16 November 1922, Page 12

STEWARDS' AWARD.

BALLOT BEING TAKEN. STRIKE ISSUE INVOLVED. The cooks and stewards of the Union Company's vessels are dissatisfied with the award of the Arbitration Court. A ballot of the members la being taken on tho question of accepting or rejecting the award, and the ballot papers will be returnable on December 14tli. The Federated Cooks and Stewards' Union lias issued tho following notice to members:— "Special meotinga of the union have been held on October 30th and 31st, l'J22, when the matter of the new award for galley staff and stewards was under consideration. In the opinions of these meetings, the members present think that a great 'injustice has been done to them by the Court of Arbitration in these awards. So as to get an expression of opinion from the ■whole of the members of the union, it was decided that a postal ballot of tho whelo membership should be taken on two points, which were as follows: — "1. To .find: out whether the awards meet with the approval of tho members. "2. As to whether the members would be propared to lend their wholehearted support to the executive in the event of your executive deciding to call a strike. "Members axe therefore requested to record their votes on the two questions submitted on the enclosed ballot paper, and same must be returned to the returning officer in tho envelop© enclosed for that purpose." Olrcnlar to Members. Tho union also issued the following circular to members:— The Court of Arbitration haa delivered an award for stewards and galley staffs v. Union Steam Ship Company. Tho alterations made to the disadvantage of members are to bo found in the following clauses of both,awards. "Wages.—These have been reduced a farther 10s per month, making, with the 16s 8d per month previously taken off, a total of £1 6s 8d per month. Previously our wages wore fixed in line with what awards were in operation in Australia, but the Court, in tho oase of the seamen's award, gave as one of its main reasons for departing from the Australian awards and wages:— "Further our duty is to provide a scale of wajjos for New Zealand seamen whose families live in New Zealand, and not in Australia." And then it fixed tlie wages for trimmers and "wipers! who are the lowest-paid workers in their respective departmenta, and l>ecause of their reason as stated —■ ■■■■• heroin, £l4 3a 4d was awarded to these workers, thereby admitting that was tho wage neoetsary for these workenj to keep tnoir families, and then said 8 hours' work per day was enough for tliem to work each day. But when it came to fixjng the wages of the stewards, tho Court stated in effect that tho stewards' families would litre to be kept on a' minimum of £l2 & 4d per month, thereby tolling you , thafc yqu would have to keep your families 011 £& per month leas than what rtfaey said was the proper and right •caie of wages for the trimmers' families \: * Again, in tho matter of hours, the Conrb tlrinks that the stewards should work two hours per day longer than the trikiaer, and when it came to the. gtflleytftafiE ' thjSir families had to bo \ ttftges fixed for a trimmer. * Jftir#,{{?« , hare tho' Court saying its yraa 'to fix a scale of 'wages for Bitfaom'g families who live in New Zealand/ but hero wo have tho Court fixjbig throe different scales of wages for /eeamett'e familiee, as follows:—Trimt mem* at £l4 8s 4d per month 5 stewards, at £l2 8s 4d per month: scullorymen, at £ll 13s: 4a. per month. And then in "addition to this injus-. tioe -with regard to their wages our ' members are asked to be worked 10 hoiiri#. each day, as against the 8 hours for trimmers. 'lf, .these facts do not show that a > glpfwg fnjustice lias been meted out l then I would like a definition of ' *1 a6itejo»tio&. ' 'How* in. port,—No changed exoept nijjjfttwafcchinen, who havo had,a fui- ' , done to them. < ( a ' at sea.—No cuange, except , apd night baker, who Vlfcni'flot flpecjal provisions made for .ractd whic)i ar© detrimental, ' * * jwd holidaye.—Where previ- " i'j jot an extra day'e pay 1 ittam;-*, w#9i port, it nofr! the ship leaves be,ll' then' Suva and. /'.a Moist*'**• deleted from the'list et '7j?S«iie».~-Weaght,to be oarried reduoin lfiu of 1121b. - V holiday.—This is a new • ? 1 and |t means that all workers ' woblbare boon'' continuously employed ~l' will be entitled to 14 • ■*'<.helidiy/ and those with six ,<" shall be entitled to J holiday. Members are aakxMßw at tte office if they have been /ssnpr sif' or trrelve months oontinu- - - *r«»iplos«d» '«o that claims can be ' for their holidays. \ been , at Is per week, but this has < '''nmimecb, as our. fees still remain at ; thft® w moifth.' ' ©afimtioti,J<—These fiwne been oonV ,alteredv Atfd members ar« »- ' .gjWtedto call-at'the ofßce for an' exr mikibtiaii "of Man. f '' > ' artiekiti&tMs is a new clause, . ilMfmrnhm requested to see that - gratfatue Is attached to the ferticles I «yne.

'„■> ~ ; • ' r. ' KEMOKANDA—Thurwitj, Nor. Wth. „ .s, 1 'ATTCTOpijjS. "' ®' 0?; i I<W.,' at Cthrirt'e P «to, St'Cr- o£m> ** IddhffcJd • treat, oppoaiW -pt 'fcU.yvd#,' 11^ AgfW 00., Ltd., *t' 61 MacJt- ::■ Woolilwi, 1 p.m.—Property" 'Jfarmta*, «tcu