WHARF LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 146, 14 March 1908, Page 7

WHARF LABOUR.

V/ECIINCTON MEN' DEMAND HICHER ■ WAGES. ' ■EMELOYERSIN CONFERENCE, . v. A . meeting of;, employers.: of i wharf labour, of tho port of Wellington: was held yeoter-; ■ -day-.morningnut tho offieos-iof^tlio- ; Harbour. -Board'.to-consider::tho. demands"of .tlio.Wellington: Wharf; Labourers', Industrial ./(Union of Workers. . Tho Union is -asking for m- ■ creased urates of .pay and: some," concessions in regardi:to holidays'.' and"-othor.i mattors. Yostorday l s'meeting :;was a • strictly, pnvato one . amongst' the employers •> affected'. ;• Tho following is a,'summary of ;tho!pniioipal items m the demands-, of the Union,-as compared :;. with, the iternis; of ajvard irrr,-'- :i: , The .-.working- hours' on Saturdays should.bo from :B'ia:miL'to-. 12 noon, instead of from; 8 a.m.-to p.m:J->as under' the-present: award: Tho following wages; ore demanded 'for handling - cargo ;r-Stevedorcs,: general. - cargo work and work: done for ..the Harbour Board, . Is. ■ 3d: .ordinary .time,-.. 2s. overtime.' (Theso : rates'do not' include rates for-work in freezing and" cool chambers, and ronr. bags ofcement, • limo, -: manure, and .shale.) For handling, bags; of :i ceriiont,",dime; ; manure, and shale,':lß.'6d.'.'por.ihour is demanded and 2s. 6d. 1 '//' '. i;..Under;Jilio,J.currenfe the '..minimum :.; wages. : 'arq.' ! as' 'folloivi'-r-Sfevedoroand/ 1 ' general cargo work (exclusive of .work, done for the Harboilr Board), Is. 3d. ;•overtimo) 25.; Harbour Board work, ordinary .time,ls.. 2d., ovortimo. . rites' 'do.'not' in-; elude . work , /.: For handling- coal, -ls/ .6d'.j(per hour and .••''.'.,2s'; Cd! ;overtime; is:-demanded .for.'.wmchmen, ; plankmen, bullrope-mcii/ tippers,. men shovel- :/-;- ling , :iii"i'hblds f ; ; of; ships/* hulks,yarid. trucks, ; and men employed'in shifting : bullies, and rig-1 ." gmg.geaE ( l :The presont'rates' are Is/ ddrand 2s Id " Forstrimming r iri''ali.ships^bunkers,' .. '.arid aiid Hiilks, ; -ls/;6d;' ' an"d^?s7;:Bd^feVuertan3ed?7 i .The';award;T aro ls.:'4d: 'alid 25.: ld.t"oii' Home-going and foreign steamersj and Is.' Gd:. and 25.: 6d on intercolonial ' ana -coastal- steamers. , •y '-."'-Fo^'ibiaTjm^aiiS-'stowing work' in' freezing' : chambers,- aboard'ship,-25.-and-3s/, aio demanded," m 1 place-of:1s. 6d; and 2s. 6d.. In . cool chambers,''ls. 6d:; and- 2s. 6d.-, in: place of-I'BJ - <Bd'Ji»nd'2B'. : .'6d.'V !, -The v men".alßo'.-demand : that - in':'h^ndliiig' beef "there.'shallbe f not' less; than six-men on a side-employed.:' : -The. irieii also demand^inter. preference 'of, employment^shall -be' given to ' members of. tho :Uniou.".yThis 'is a,substitution of a clause providing that shall not discriminate .against the Union.- - WACES IN WELLINGTON. 'A COMPARISON WITH SYDNEY. Tho'wages-paid to wharf labourers in: Wellington i by the' Harbour . Board compare: more '. than favpufabiy';with;tho rates'that'are,"paid by tho stoamship companies for, similar work in 'Tt' is 'cabled,that the;three 1 companies' that. are,alleged. to be causing/tho troublo • have:bijen paying Is. .1 Jd. per-hour, in ; the . daytime. and-lt. ,4{l. at .night, whilo tho otlidr companifis ■ paid the same day.-, rates,, but :4do ■ mora,-per'.hour,:at:inight;'i.iTho .rates, of-ipay in Wellingtonvis'.ls. :3di';per hour m- tho day-timo';and'2s;'at night,":so:that -a man workipg his forty-eight hours a day regularly: . earns moro -per weekv-thantho Sydney wharf •.labourer;. preference' to Unionists m respect to tho Harbour Boarc(s' oiU ? JJnU J The employees, at present .;-sittmg •ln -MWelhngton, .-J'yokterday; pasSed-a'' motion •. expressing'the utmost -syin-pathj*-frith" 1 the workers. ■ i ?* v< \ : Thoiaward.under which..the .men -are now working.: expired-vnommally in r-nDecemberj-: 1905:"-"- -y- wy-y V/y- ; j t i