SHIPWRIGHTS' AWARD

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 130, 4 June 1938, Page 6

SHIPWRIGHTS' AWARD

A SHORT TERM

HOURS AND WAGES

An Industrial award covering boatbuilders and shipwrights in the northern; Wellington, Otago, and Southland districts has been filed by the Second Court of Arbitration. The award is to operate from June 3, 1938, to December 31, 1938.

"The principal matters referred to the Court were hours of work, wages, overtime, travelling time, holidays, and slipping and docking," said Mr. Justice Hunter in a memorandum; "These the Court has settled. The Court has fixed the hours of work for ship repair "work at 44 per week on the ground that it is impracticable to carry on the industry efficiently in a 40-hour week for the reason that ship, repair work is usually urgent work and a week of 44 hours' work is necessary to enable ships to proceed to sea so as to maintain their schedule times. At the same time, the Court has inserted provisions/ that Saturday work shall "be done only in the special circumstances enumerated in the award." "

The ordinary hours of work are not to exceed eight daily, and are to be worked between 7.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. In boat-building, the work days are to be Monday to Friday inclusive, with one hour for lunch, or a shorter time by mutual agreement. For ship work on ship repair work an additional halfday of four hours between 7.30 ajn. and noon on Saturday is provided. A provision is made that the Saturday work shall not be required except in lengthy contracts and running overhauls where overtime has been worked during the previous week, or where it is intended to undock or unslip the vessel on Saturday or to. complete a job; where the ship is scheduled to sail on Saturday night or Monday; or where emergency work is called for.

The minimum hourly rate of wages i for journeymen shipwrights is 2s lOld,! and leading hands are to be paid 3d per hour above this rate. Overtime is payable at the rate of time and a half for the first three hours and thereafter double time. Provision is made for travelling time in the case of work commenced or finished during the cessation of public wheeled traffic. Double time rates are to be paid workers who have worked all day until after midnight, unless eight hours are given off duty. Any worker employed continuously all day and night is to be paid double time rates if employed into the next day.

Meal money at a rate of Is 6d is provided for. The dinner hour is fixed at from noon to 1 p.m, and the tea hour at from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., with provision for double time on these hours.

Special clauses govern suburban work and outpost work. Nine statutory holidays are laid down, for working on which days double time is payable, as for Sunday work. A payment of Is 6d extra per day or part of a day is laid down, for dirty work. Clauses also cover work in special conditions of heat, cold, and discomfort. Other mat-, ters dealt with are slipping and docking, salvage work; payment of wages, etc.