BUILDERS' LABOURERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1307, 9 December 1911, Page 9

BUILDERS' LABOURERS.

THE DISPUTE NOT SETTLED. Tlio Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. V. Hally) said yesterday with a Conciliation Council (o investigate a dispute-between tho Huildnrs' Labourers' Union and the master builders of Wellington. The assessors for the employers woro Messrs. Alex Campbell, Archibald M. Wilson, and W. 11. Bennett, and for tho workers Messrs. 0. Weller. 11.I 1 . J, Lvons, and E. Kennedy. Mr. W. A. W. 'Grcnfell appeared as agent for tho employ-el's-,, and Mr. W. C. Xoot for tho union.

Iho union asked for a 44 hours week and wages-at.thc, rato of ]s. 3d;'.-pcr'.iiour for ordinary work, Is. 4d. for scaffold work, and Is. Gd. for duly which required employees to work standing in water. The union asked also that overtime be paid for at the rate of time and a half for tho first two hours and double time thereafter. Tho holidays specified on which doublo timo should bo paid wore Sundays, Christinas. Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, New Year's Day, and Labour, Day. The usual clause for tho payment of wages weekly in cash on'tho job within fifteen minutes after tho timo for ceasing work. _ The union also asked for travelling timo for suburban work, and for a fprciiil rate of Is. W. per hour for casual work. Their demands contained also a fairly'stringent preference clause, and a. provision as to accommodation for men employed on a building. Tho emoffered tho wages payablo under the old awards, Is. l!d. per hour for ordinary work, and Is. 2Jd. per hour for scaffold work, hoy refused to recognise casual work or wet work. It was agreed that the; overtime rates should bo time and a quarter for the first two hours, time and a half up till 10 p.m., and double tune thereafter. The holidays woro allowed as demanded. The accommodation clauso was accepted without question, as was also another relatin" to under-rato workers. A modified preference was granted, aud tho union dropped their demand for special rates to casuals. .1 real difficulty occurred over wages and travelling time for suburban work, iho council went into committeo to consider the proposals, but no agreement was reached. The employers wore not disposed to grant tho demands, but did not wish to close down the proceedings until they had consulted the members of tneir association. I

To enable them to do this the dispute ?|'f adjourned until Wednesday, Decern-.