WAIHI STRIKE

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 70, 23 March 1920, Page 7

WAIHI STRIKE

A SERIOUS POSITION

WHAT THE MINERS ARE

DEMANDING

WILL COAL WORKERS BE

INVOLVED?

A serious position has been created by the strike of miners at Waihi—the men ceased work to-day—owing to the fact that the union is affiliated with the New Zealand Coal, Gold, Shale, Quarry, and Tuhne~ers' Federation.. It is feared, therefore, that the coalminers may be involved in the present dispute unless some means of settlement are. found very soon. The agreement between the union and the gold ■ mining -companies, expired in' February last, and proposals for a new agreement were then submitted to the owners. A conference was held, but no settlement was arrived at. An offer from the owners was submitted to members of the union, but this was turned down unanimously. The secretary of . tho federation (Mr. J. Arbuckle) subsequentIy interviewed Mr. Massey and asked him Lo use his position to arrange a further conference, and the Prime "Minister pro-" mistd to do. what he. .could:. .It wassug-, gested that the owners might be iadiiced to reconsider their offer. The companies have since refused to agree to a suggestion made by the-.union that a second conference should be held, the letter to the Ohinemuri Mines and Batteries' Union being couched in tho following terms:— 5

_ In reply to yours of the 11th March, in which you suggest a further conference between tho mining com-, panics and your union, whilst always willing to give the representatives of your union an opportunity of discussing any matter in dispute with us, as tho parties only, recently concluded a three days conference, at which all matters in dispute were exhaustively considered. m_d as you do not mention any new points for discussion, we fail to see. what good purpose could be served by a further conference. As explained at the recent conference, the very substantial increases in pay and . other concessions granted by the employers represented the limit which they felt justified in oftenng, and as regards the matter of overtime rates and other working conditions, we think theee are matters'for an Arbitration Court ruling. In our opinion, tlie partie.s having failed to agree, tho'. proper course for the union is. to file a dispute with the Arbitration Court. In tho meantime the companies are quite prepared to continue paying the rates offered at the recent conference, and generally to abide by the conditions of that ofter. We cannot agree with your statement that there, is great dissatisfaction with the terms the men are at present working under, but on the contrary have reason to believe that the majority of the men 'are well satisfied with' the concessions made by the companies at the recent conference. Of course, if there are any new points your union desires to bring forward we shall be pleased to consider them.—Yours faithf-illy, For the Waihi Gold Mining Company, EtoT, s ■. ''' .. . E.G. BANKS, Superintendent;. , For the Waihi Grand Junction Co., S. LEAH, ' ; '■ "General Manager." SUPPORT' FROM COAL MINERS.

According to Sir. /Arbuckle, who made a statement to a Post reporter, the men will not return to work. until the companies are agreeable to the granting of a living wage. "So far as the Waihi dispute is concerned," he said,. '"it is not only the gold miners who are affected, because they are affiliated with the coal miners, and the latter will certainly not allow the Waihi gold companies to literally starve .their employees—and that is what the .present offer as regards wages means. It is to be hoped that the Government, will not allow the wealthy companies, such as the Waihi, to decliiif! to pay wages which would be on a level with those earned by igeneral labourers engaged in surface work. .Personally, I would, favour a course of action whereby the federation would assist the wives and children of the gold miners to remove to. the coal mining areas, where the men would be able to earn money more in keeping with thecost of living." PROPOSALS FOR NEW AGREEMENT.. In view, of the seriousness of the position, it is of interest to state what the union is fighting for..: In the first place the men , are asking for a 44----hour week for all workers, except for men employed in hot,, wet, or .gassy places who shall work six hours' per shift and five shifts par week. "The hours now vary from 45 to 48 per week. The wages asked for are as follow : Minimum wages for surface 'and underground workers:. Surface, 17s, underground 17 6d per shift. (Present rates 9s 6d to 11s 3d) ; bracemen and chambermen ,21s; Bd.- (9s 3d and 9s 6d); pitmen 23s 4d, toolsharpeners 21s (9s 6d); timbermen on surface or underground 19s (10s)'; stainpermen 17s 6d (9s 9d); amalgamator 18s (10s); stone-breakers 18s 8d (9s 3d and 9s 9d); men attending sand or settlers 17s 6d (9s 6d); concentrate men 18s 6d (9s 6d and 10s 6d); foundry labourers 18s (9s 9d) ; blacksmiths' strikers 14s, 15s 9d, 17s 6d, according to ape (9s 3d); greasers and sluicers 17s (Sd (9s' 6d).: tube mill hands 17s 6d (9s 3d and 9s 6d); men working at settlers or V boxes 17s 6d (9s 6d) ; mine pipemen 19s 10d; truck repairers 21s; shaft sinkers and repairers 23s 4d... The existing wages, which are given in parentheses in each case, carry a war bonus of Is 3d per day. Tho wages demanded for youths are-: Under 17 years, 12s 3d per shift (4s); 17 to 18, 14s (ss); 18 to 19, 15s 9d (6s); 19 to 20, 17s 6d.;.(75). ' ] Tlie union also asks for absolute.preference to members, 2s 6d per hour "dirt money," and 7s 6d per hour for all salvage work. It demands that overtime shall be paid for at the rate of time and a-half for the first two houi-6, and thereafter double time, all work done on Sundays and close holidays to b« paid for at tho rate of double time. Several other important conditions appear under ! the heading of general. THE COUNTER OFFER. The offer made by the companies, rej>resenting an increase of Is 9d on the rates ip. the old agreement, is as follows:

To agree to a forty-four week for men working shifts in batteries, provided that in respect to the three fourhour shifts to bo "worked each week, a man to he relieved must carry on for a further four hours without receiving overtime rates if his mate fails to v turn up for work. This arrangement to start on Mouday, 36th February, at 8 a.m. Believing that the cost of living will not be seriously reduced during the next two years, we agree to merge the propoded W!U< bonus of two shillings into wages, and we now offer, a- flat rise of three shillings per day to the minimum rato for f ach grade of workers on. the schedule in .the last agreement. That will make the minimum rate for any adult worker 12s 3d per daj, on which, existing overtime rates will he' paid. Youths to get 2s 6d per day increase on the rates specified in clause 4 of the old agreement, excepting those -who we

learning 1 a trade, who will get a rise 0 6d per day on what they havo been gel ting. v> ! 3. Holidays.-^-All men working sevs shifts per week for not less than fort; weeks in the year shall. be entitled i seven days' holidays on full pay eaci year. ' ■ ■ 4. All other conditions to be tho sami as in the old agreement. 5. The rates offered will be paid a | from the Bth February.' 6. Preference.—Those six men win are at present exempted fronc joining thi union are to continue in that position i they desire it. , ■ Alterations.—Dirt money Is 6d pc! shift extra, in placp of Is. Ohambermei 8d extra, in place of 4d. No youth 6un der thfij2gfl of eighteen, to be employee at heavy striking In a blacksmith's shop.