GAS WORKERS’ DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 71, 17 December 1937, Page 17

GAS WORKERS’ DISPUTE

Application For Dominion Award CONCILIATION HEARING X. The Conciliation Council, Mr. R. Price (commissioner) presiding, was engaged yesterday in - Wellington in hearing the application of the New Zealand Gasworks and Related Trades Employees’ Industrial Union of Workers for a Dominion award. The workers’ assessors were Messrs. F. Mosley (Auckland), E. Wadham (Auckland), J. Scott (Wanganui)', P. Albrett (Petone), A. Davidson (Wellington), J. O. Cusack (Christchurch), J. P. Wilson (Christchurch), with Mr. J. Roberts (Wellington) as advocate. The employers’ assessors were Messrs. J. Lowe (Auckland), F. W. J. Belton (Christchurch), J. Hungerford (Wellington), W. L. Waddell (Hamilton), R. J. Dunckley (Blenheim), W. J. Stone (Wanganui), H. Horrocks (Dunedin), with Mr. T. 0. Bishop (Wellington) as advocate. The applicants asked for a 40-hour week, except in the case of workers (including drivers) engaged in receiving, trimming, handling and bunkering coal, coke and ashes, filling tar stills, complaints men and siphon men, also gatekeepers and watchmen and drivers engaged in the transport of goods, for whom a 44-hour week was asked. Overtime was asked for at time and a half for the first four hours and thereafter double time rates. A minimum wage was claimed for all, except specified workers; of £4/3/4 a week, or 2/2 an hour; layers and lead jointers, £4/6/8 or 2/3 an hour; street mains gangers in charge of not less than six men, £4/13/4, or 2/5; brickworks moulders, £4/17/6. Minimum rates sought for motor drivers were: Up to one ton, £4/7/6 a' week , one to two tons, £4/11/-; two to 44 tons, £4/13/6; 4J tons and over, £4/ 16/-. The minimum rate asked for tradesmen, that is, mechanics, carpenters, gasfitters, plumbers, bricklayers, . boilermakers, sheet-metal workers, tinsmiths and blacksmiths, was £5 a week; for engine-drivers and firemen, first-class certificate, £5, second class £4/la/-; boiler firemen, £4/5/-; gatekeepers and watchmen, £3/16/-. Minimum wages for boys were asked ranging from 15/- when starting under 16 years, to 72/6 at the end of the fifth year. . Travelling allowances were asked lor, and in the case of employees using their own bicycles, 2/- a week. For shift work a minimum ot 20/- a shift was asked for machine men, JJ, - for stokers and water-gas opera tore, fire cleaners, boiler firemen and tar boilermen, and 18/- a shift for all other shift workers. The employers submitted as couuteiproposals a 40-hour week, except in the case of workers engaged in r ? ) tort ’s°“‘’„ e work ; a minimum wage for J* 1 ' J/in/ 6 *»’ except otherwise specified, of ±4/tu/week, and for service layers and mam layers and tradesmen, £4/19/- a week, With the exception of retort-house workers, overtime to be paid for at time and a half for the first two hours, thereafter at double rates. A retort-house worker was defined as a worker engaged intlie retort-house as a stoker or part-time stoker. For such workers a 48-hour week was asked, distributed over seven days ot the week, and a minimum wage of £•' 12/- a week was proposed. The council went into committee from the beginning, but scarcely, any progress was made. The council will continue its sittiy to-day.