RAILWAYMAN'S WAGES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1270, 27 October 1911, Page 5

RAILWAYMAN'S WAGES.

TROUBLE AT NEWMARKET is WORKSHOPS. it ie (By Telccraph.—Press Association.) ',° Auckland, October 26. - u Troublo has arisen at tho Newmarket Railway Workshops in connection with tho increases in rate; of pay recently announced by tho Minister for Railways. Those who are disaffected arc the trad'esmen—a classification which includes carpenters, painters, fitters, turners, blacksmiths, boilermakc.rs, trimmers, and coppersmiths.-. It appears that under the now schedule these men are to receive a rise of 6:1. per day, and. their grievance r . is that guards, drivers-, and signalmen 3r will receive Is. per day extra, ii- Inquiries mado by a reporter amongst the dir-vifl'icted tradesmen elicilod the blatenwnt that for a number of years past their wages have been stationary, whereas incre.it-es have boon made to men . r in the unskilled and other brandies of '5' this service. The general increases now lr granted do not, it is claimed, strike a I" sufficient margin between tho skilled man [ ls and tho unskilled. Roughly, thp trades--10 men are getting 10s. Gd. per day, and liavo been raised to 11s. They want 11s. Gd., which would be, generally speaking, ls. Gd. moro than tho average paid to the unskilled men, and would satisfy tho q. tradesmen. , r A mooting of tho wliolo of the Iradwmen at tho Newmarket Workshops was held to-day, when tho matter was discussed. A resolution was unanimously carried expressing dissatisfaction with (ha schedule of increases granted by Iho Mim'.-.to.r, and asking for a further (id. 1 , . ]ior day. ]t was decided to forward tho >o resolution (o (-.he Minister, and also to o- members of Parliament, e- Whilst there was a desire exhibited by a- the men interviewed to l>e dis.<wiatc-d from the rumours of strikes, I hoy admitted that it was freely suggested at to-day's meeting that, in (ho event of an unsatisfactory reply to their resolution being received, tho railway ninn would "i mako their prepuce felt nt the ballot-box in December. Considerably over 100 men are involved.