TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES' DEMANDS

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 242, 6 July 1908, Page 8

TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES' DEMANDS

. INCREASES RECOMMENDED. Tho Finance Committee of the City Coun- *> jil ' met .on Friday, night, when it went through the whole subject of increasing the salaries, of the tramway, employees, and camo to a decision, on various matters.- There were several points which the Committee - could not seo.its way to recommend to the Council, but . the whole , matter, will now be submitted to the men. If nothing further is : done, the Committee will report to the next ■ mooting of tho .Council. In conversation with a Dominion representative, the Mayor, (the Hon. Ti W. His- ' lop) said that there would be some increases ' of wages for a number of the employees, where their minimum was below that awarded ' by the Arbitration Court in similar occupations, such : as/ for instance, .fitters, who - would. Teceive the riso which .was made by : tho Court, - wheax dealing with fitters generi ally, and. there were several others of a. simi- '■ lar kind'. , Thei wages of some of the la- - bourers will he modified so as to. bring , them into line with labourers generally. For such men as track repairers, who are doing special i work, ithe minimum .fixed will be a little higher than the present , minimum. The.number of first-class motormen will be increased, so that, if a sufficient number, of

: ordinary motormen are eligible, by . examination and : experience, : the/first-class will be / > made' to consist of forty-five, instead of V ' twenty-five as at present. The difference in wages between tho ordinary and first-class , will be-Jd, per hour. . - The .conductors, continued Mr. Hisiop, will ' -be divided" into' three- classes, instead of two, • as-at present. This will encourage the or; ■ . dinary conductor to. qualify himself for cases of emergency to be; ablo to do what is neccs-' sary "to a car, in driving, etc.. Ordinary con- . ductors will require to pass an examination, . . arid to have been in the service for twelve v months; Upon doing this, they will receive . £d. more per. hour. In a few other instances, .' there will bo slight'increases. -. ' '