STRAINED RELATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 696, 22 December 1909, Page 8

STRAINED RELATIONS.

THE SLAUGHTERING TRADE. ' WILL THERE BE A STRIKE 5 For some time jftfst there have beon rtunours flf impending industrial trouble In connection with the export slaughter-houses in this dis fcrict. These rumours hare assumed a graver tone during the last few dajs, and in some usually well-informed, quarters very littlo surprise wcraUhhaite been fell it the slaußhteimen at ono of tho large works, which kill for etport, had suddenly ceased work Inquirws made \esterday show tnat tho portion is still ' critical, but it is hoped that an atnicablo EOttlomoC*" will bo arrived at. Tho slaughtermen have been working up to tiro' present under an industrial agreement < innde in June. 1907, a~nd formally termi noting in Juno last Tho rate of pay under tins agreei pient is 23a. per 100 sheep or lambs Pnoi to tho strike of two years ago, when tho killeis at several other works in different parts oi , New Zealand, besides thosi in the neighbourhood of Wellington, wont out, the rate of paj locally was 21s. per 100 On tho expiry of 1 tho agreement mentioned, the union askid for an increase to 25s per 100. Negotiations were ' BSfc on foot, and it is understood that informal conferences wore held, but the employers uero .firm in stating that they could not seo their way to" grant tho increase asked for. The men's representatives appear to havo been equally firm m pressing tho demand.

An Unusual Development - An unusual, and perhaps unique, developt knebt then,took-place The Gear Meat Com pany and the Wellington Meat Export, Company filed, an application for the hearing of „ -an industrial dispute It is believed that this was the first instance in the hjstory of indus v trial arbitration, in Wellington at any rate, -• m which the employers have taken the ini--1 tiative in proceedings betore the industrial tri bnnals. The companies in their demand spcci ' Bed the rate of paj as 23s per 100 The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr V Hally) fixed Mondaj last as the date 1 for tho bearing of tho (.dispute Tho Slaughtermen's Union, £ however, decided not to participate in the ; proceedings,' and accordingly declined to np > point assessors to sit as members 6f the Council ' 'cil of Conciliation Tho meat companies ap i pointed ,ns assessors Messrs V D Sladdeu, W. /Tt Tripe, and JO C Corner These ind Mr W. H Grenfell (secretary of tho Wei hngtqn Employers'" Association) met tho com missioner on Monday, but as the other side was not represented, the meeting adjourned *• It was thought that might appoint a'scsoors at a meeting to bo held the simo it eremng, s but they did not do so, and it-is understood that they have again intimated that they do not intend to do so. f> j The Present Position. j * Tho position at the moment, therefore is t that tho union 1 demands a rise in wages and f i Tefuses to discuss the question before the tribunal provided by the law r It is interesting to note that under Section I S2 of the amending Act of 1908, it is the ■. duty of the commissioner to appoint assessors k for the respondents, if they fail to do so It is expected that Mr Hally will not convene ■ another Conciliation Council meeting until after the holidays ' 1 Although the men decline to have anything r i f to do with the legally constituted means of i> fconoilinbon, hopes afe entertained iin some ' quarters that informal negotiations may vet " lead ' to agreement between the parties Some oft those who fear that the dispute will cul J mmate in a strike are of opinion that the ij» men will not bo called out until Tebruan, - when the season will be at its busiest II •will be_ recollected by many that rumours of ' brpendinpf- trouble in the slaughtering trade 1 „ were freely 'circulated about a yoaT ago, bat what trouble -there was did not reach an J honte stage i The Companies' Conditions *' i ' The .statement of claim by the com 1 paniesWs out that slaughtermen's uork shall j k molude killing, removing tongues, taking oif ", skins, v taking insideS out, washing, wiping, putting strings on, attaching tags, and hang , me off THe rates of pay shall be as follow — ,i i, All eheep and lambs not otherwise specified, \! 23s per 100, rajns, 5d each, lambs requiring -' book-sete, 5d each, sheep and la"nibs dead When (brought to the worka, Is eacb? cattle, t 2s each, pigs, Is each, calves, «ls. each, cattle x dead when brought to the works, 4s each Wages to weekly Working "hours to be <• tween f 7 a m and 7pm, lexcept on Saturdapv v when the hours shall be between 7 am and \ -4p m i All stock failed before or after thtee y c hours, or after eight hours' work has been. \ done, shall be paid at the rate of rate and a , quarter One hour to be allowed for dinner Employers shall have the right to'arrange'tho r\> hours of work as the exigenoies of their busi I i ness shall require Waiting time to be paid J Jot the rate-of 2s per hour,'if the men have to ** * wait for more than 15 minutes after the last " .. man has out out. In order to cut out ariy mob t which may bo on hand at knocking off / 1 fame, workers shall thereafter, if required, ■• 1 ' slaughter up to three t sheep or lambs Tor each; damaged hide, through carelessness Is to l>o paid, each skin 6d, each carcass (& All j work done on New Year's Daj, Anniversary * i Day, Good Tndaj, Easter Monday, labour ' -V.Pay, Christmas Day, Boxtng Day, and Sun- •* toys to be paid for at the rate- df rate and a j. ' ( half." Gut hands maj be alloned to letrn on l, ( Jbo ■'boards, provided they leg for slaughter- ■> t men'equally and in rotation They shall have *- tile right of probation according to the length of tune they have i served , " on the gut board, P k ' and must be members of the Slaughtermen's Union before learning 2to slaughterman shall 1 be required to bu> any carcass he may dam 1 age Eadh slaughterman shall be provided I i with'a hook, and not more than two men shall I' 'be allowed to work in am One, pen Employees ' _- shall ask permission of the foreman, before J ceasing work at any time other than the gen eral time for ceasing work Subject to the [_ provisions of the award, employers Nhall have the fullest control of their factories, and may i i jriakfe such rules for the necessary and pro %t per management thereof a<; they may deem ex ■' \ pe-dient - » ,