ENGINEERS’ DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 151, 23 March 1938, Page 12

ENGINEERS’ DISPUTE

Conciliation Council Adjourned

By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, March 22. A Conciliation Council was held today to consider the claims of workers in the Engineers’ and Moulders' Industrial Dispute. The dispute affects the whole Dominion. The workers submitted claims asking for a 35-hour week, of which seven hours should be worked on each day from Monday to Friday inclusive between the hours of 7.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. All work done in excess of these hours shotild be counted as overtime and should be paid for at the rate of time and a half for the first two hours and thereafter double time. The following were some of the minimum wages asked for: Toolmakers, patternmakers, aero, typewriter, duplicator, adding machine and textile mechanics, draughtsmen and tradesmen on hotmix plants, 3/0 an hour: tradesmen, .3/3 an hour: second-class machinists 3/3 an hour; process workers, 2/9 an hour: moulders (1) journeymen iron and brass moulders 3/3 an hour: (2) journeymen core-makers, 3/3 an hour: (3) machine moulders. 3/2 an hour. It was also asked that where workers provided their own tools they be paid 2d an hour more, any tools lost or broken to be replaced by'the employer, and that no worker other than a tradesman use the tools of the trade. The award should operate throughout the Northern. Taranaki. Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and- Southland industrial districts.

The employers did not submil coun-ter-proposals but stated that steps had been taken by them to have a sitting at an early date dealing with the industry on.a comprehensive basis, that is making' provision for the several classes of workers engaged in the various industries connected with metal trades.

It was finally agreed that the council should be adjourned sine die and that the next sitting would be arranged for the same date as the comprehensive hearing. It was further agreed that steps be taken by both fflirties to expedite the making of an award by the Court of Arbitration.