TRAM EMPLOYEES WAGES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 43, 19 August 1908, Page 8

TRAM EMPLOYEES WAGES.

NEGOTIATIONS COMPLETED. The long-standing negotiations between the City Corporation and the* Wellington Tramways Union are practically completed at last, and the Tramways Committee of the City Council will make a report to next Thursday's meeting recommending acceptance of terms finally agreed upon last Monday between the committee and the union. These remain largely on the lines indicated some time ago as the stage leached in negotiations, but there have been some additional compromises made. It has been resolved that there shall be. not less than forty-five first-class motormen employed, instead of twenty as formerly, and in consideration of this concession the union abandons its demand for Is 2d per hour, and accepts the old rate of Is l£d for first-class men and Is Id for second-class. Conductors'wages are to remain unaltered, but there is a provision that third-class conductors become second-class upon the expiry of twelve months' continuous service and upon having passed the preliminary motormen's examination. Firstclass motormen are to be authorised to drive cars. An increase of one _ penny per hour is to be given to car-equipment adjusters, and men employed on controller work are to have an extra |d per hour. Tho senior firemen in the powerhouse is to receive an extra penny per hour, but the others remain at their present figure of Is 2d. Powerhouse greasers remain at their old standard of Is 2d, but the powerhouse "handy men" will be raised to the. same figure from their present pay of Is per hour. Increases of 3d per hour have been given to electricians, and uf Id per hour to wiremen, thus bringing their pay into line with the Arbitration Court award (Is 6d and Is 4d per hour respectively) ; fitters and receive an increase of lid per hour ; engine smiths £d, and their strikers Id ; fitters and turners on nigbt shifts are to have Is 6d per shift extra, and smiths, strikers, and fitters' labourers on night shift are to receive an in- - crease of Is per shift. Night work iv these lines, however, is infrequent. 'Emergency linesmen are to be paid for a seven days' week instead of six days, which will increase then wages from £2 18s to £3 ss, and a similar procedure in regard to pointsmen will raise thsir weekly wage to £2 15s. There was some difficulty over the matter of clerks, timekeepers, and night foremen, but it has been overcome by adding them to the City Council staff. A proposal by the committee that an increase of id per hour shall be given to trackmen is regarded as insufficient by the union (the present wage is Is per hour), and this point is to be further considered on Thursday.

Miss C. W. Christie, organiser of the Theosophical Society (New Zealand see- 1 tion) will continue her lecture on "Life After Death," at tho lodge room, York Chnmbers, M&nncvs-sUeot, at 0 o'clock to-