GENERAL LABOURERS' UNION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1019, 7 January 1911, Page 6

GENERAL LABOURERS' UNION.

CONDITIONS: OE WOKK DESIE-ED. . As., a .result; p.f, the .recent conference of 1 general'-labourers, this : secretary of tho Wellington Union, Mr. M. J. Reardon, will, next- week,-'place the following suggestions in' regard to improved hours, wages, etc., oefore the City Council :— The week's work shall, not exceed 41 hours, and shall not exceed eight hours on five days of the week and four hours on Saturday. Working hours' to be between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on five days of the week and between the hours of 7 a.m. and 12 noon on Saturday. When it is necessary to prepare material for work before the ordinary hours for commencing work, tile employer may employ workers to do such necessary work for not more than half an hour before that time, at the ordinary rate of pay. In tunnel-work the hours shall not, exceed eight, per'shift, from bank to bank, with half an hour, per shift, from bank to bank, with half an hour for crib-time. All tunnels.shall be at least 6ft. by 3ft. in the clear. Six hours shall constitute a day's work when workers are working, in wet places or in foul air,, and shall be paid for as if the workers had worked eight hours. A "wet place" shall mean .a place where the worker has to stand in not less than two inches of water, or where water, other than rain, is dripping on him. The following shall be the minimum rates of wages to be paid to • the several classes of "workers respectivelyTunnelmen and timber-men, 12s. per shift; all other workers employed underground, 12s. per shift; men engaged in sinking shafts, 12s. per shift; powder-men, hammer-and-drill men,' jumper-men, labourers engaged in drainage, sewerage, gardening, and all other' classes of labouring work not hereinbefore. specified, Is. 3d. per hour.. All time worked beyond the hours hereinbefore mentioned shall be considered overtime, and shall be paid for at the. rate of time and a half lor the first two hours and thereafter. a$ . the rate of double time. ' . Tho following, shall bo . the recognised holidays New Tear's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day,, the birthday of -the Sovereign, Christmas 'Day, and Boxing Day. These shall be paid for as if tho worker had worked eight hours. Work done in .any of the above-named holidays or on Sunday shall be paid for at the rate of double time. Workers employed shall b> at the place where the work is to be performed at the hour appointed for the commencement of work, but if such place is distant more than 1J miles from the Chief Post Office workers employed thereon shall be allowed and paid for time reasonably occupied by tnem in walking to and from such work at the cost of their employers. All time walked shall b3 allowed for at the rate of three miles per hour. All tools shall be supplied by the employer. ■ The employer when engaging any, labourer shall ascertain whether such labourer is a member of the Workers' Union, and if . not his engagement shall be subject to his becoming a member. All labourers at present working for any employer and who • are not membors of the General Labourers' Union shall become members within two weeks from the time of this agreement coming into operation. The secretary of the Workers' Uniou to notify employers when any man becomes unfinancial. Any employer shall place no obstacle in tho way of any representative of • the Workers' Union in : tho collection of moneys due, provided ' such collection is not made during working hours. . x Immediately after an employer . receives notice that on employee has becomo unfinancial, he shall dismiss such worker from his employ unless the worker shall pay up all arrears of subscript tion forthwith.