TRAMWAY SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 280, 19 August 1908, Page 8

TRAMWAY SERVICE.

THE MEN'S DEMANDS. „ GENERAL INCREASES. It appears that at last there is a probability- of-a settlement being arrived at as to •the* question of-wages in dispute between the members of the ; Tramways, Employees' TJnion arid the City Corporation; It is understood that - the employees have - decided to accept practically all tho . terms offered by the Tramways Committee, with ; one exception, and that is regarding tho request : trackmen be given Is. OJd. per hour, which would mean an increase ,of 19s. 7d. per. week for .'.ten: men. There was; a - difficulty regarding; clerks,. time-keepers and nightforemen, but it has been., overcome by adding them to. the-City Council staff. • ■ The following gives an idea of the original demands, and what the Committee proposes to grant : The Union asked for Is. 2d. .per ■hour.'.for first-class motormen, • and. Jd. less (the. old rate) was granted, but it is pro-;; Ijosed tha't there shall not be fewer than fortylire first-class motormen, whereas there.wore .twenty previously. . Second-class motormen are to receive the original amount, Is. Id. per hour. As to conductors, they remain unaltered, with the exception that third-, .class conductors become second-class . upon the.,'cxpiry of twelve months'- continuous service,;'and upon having passed the preliminary, motormen's examination. A. first-class conductor is licensed to drive a car. Car-equip-ment'adjusters asked for Is. 3d. per hour,and are to receive Is. ldl, an increase'of a penny; per. hour, and men employed at controller .work are.to have Is. ljfd. per hour, an increase of §d. Linesmen are to receive Is. 3d. per hour as at present. The -Union asked Is. 3d.' per hour for power-house firemen, ' -and this "is given, to the senior hand, .but the remainder- aro to receive Is. 2d.,, as at :present.. Greasers asked for Is., 3d., they receive a penny less, which is the old rate, and power house handy men are to get Is. 2d., a rise of 2d. per' hour. : The followjng summarises ■ .the remainder of tho salaries: —Permanent-way repairers six at Is. lsd.- per hour, remainder Is., as at present; electricians and- wiremen: Is. (id. and_ Is. 4d. per hour respectively, in conformity with tho electricians award, the increases being 3d. and Id.; - fitters . and turners:' Is. 4jd., an;incrcase of lid.; en-gine-smiths : Is.;. 'Id., an increase of id.: engine-smith strikers: Is. Id., air increase of' Id.; car-cleaners and fitters remain as .at present; emergency .'linesmen: £3 :5s.T per. week of seven days, instead of £2 18s;-for six days j pointsmen.:- £2 155.-per week of seven days, an increase of about 2s. 6d: per week;.fitters and turners on night-shift aro to have Is. 6d..per shift over the ordinaryrate, and smiths, strikers and fitters' labourers on night-shift, aro to receive an increase of Is. per shift. The hours of labour are. to remain as at present.