WATERSIDE WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 95, 19 October 1938, Page 8

WATERSIDE WORK

NEW AWARD SOUGHT

CLAIMS AND COUNTER-

CLAIMS

LITTLE AGREEMENT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, October 18. Long proceedings were begun in Conciliation Council, when assessors for the New Zealand Waterside Employers' Association and the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union discussed provisions for a Dominion award. The proposals of the employers and the counter-claims of the workers each contained more than 90 clauses, and there was disagreement on a considerable number of points. After the hearing in Auckland is concluded, the council will meet in Dunedin, Napier, and Wellington. Mr. R. E. Price, Conciliation Commissioner, presided. The employers' assessors were Messrs. W. H. G. Bennett (agent), R. C. Foreman, W. Gregory and G. G. McFarlane, and Captains T. Bowling, S. Holm* A. J. L. Naylor, and R. '0. Hammond. Assessors for the union, were Messrs.. • J. Roberts- (agent), J. Flood, C. Fraser, G. Thomas, J. O. Johnson, D. Copland, and J. Cameron. The employers proposed that ordinary hours of work should be from 8 a.m. to noon and from - p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday to vFriday and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The rate of wages for all classes. of work was specified at 2s 8d an hour with the exception of roadstead ports, where it was suggested certain extra payments should be made. Except where otherwise provided, overtime at all ports Was specified at time and a half until 10 p.m. and double time for any time worked between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. It was the union's contention that ordinary working hours should be from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday to Friday, with all other time classed as overtime. Wages in Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin were set out at 2s lid an hour for ordinary time. A slightly different scale of additional payment for work in roadstead ports from that contained in the employers' offer was sought and suggested rates of overtime were time and a half until 9 p.m. SATURDAY WORK. Theparties also differed on Saturday work. The employers claimed a rate of pay as time and a quarter from 8 a.m. to noon, with a special overtime rate applying from 1 p.m. to 5 pm. The workers sought time and a half payment for the morning and double ordinary time from 1 p.m. to 5 pm. There was also disagreement on the question of payment for work done on Sunday, Christmas Day, and Good Friday, the workers^ claiming double ordinary overtime^ rates and the employers suggesting double the °IS nSdi3S-to statutory holidays, the union proposed that waterside bef^th^^^o?^ each Employer r^^f^ I'^ proportion based on the wages paia e?Jnftiie general provision^ the union's claims was a fW™**£.£ men should be allowed 15-minut^-ior ,«smoko" without- stoppage of pay at loTm and 3 p.m. and at 7.30 p.m. when overSne was worked. It was also sugSted that hot-coffee should, be supSS to men working in freezing chambers. '. ■ BUREAU SYSTEM. Both sets of claims provided for registration of the bureau system of employment, but the workers' proposals included a clause, that each man registered under the scheme and complying with the conditions shall be guaranteed work in each week to a value of not less than £3 ss, or, failing provision of such work, that he be paid this sum. A plan to introduce a system oi piecework was advanced by the employers. Clauses in their claims provided that the work of loading any class of cargo into overseas vessels should be carried, out by the piecework system where ships are owned or consigned to the New Zealand Shipping Company, Port Line Limited, Shaw, Savill, and ■ Albion Company Limited, Blue Star (NeW Zealand) Limited, Gollin and Company Proprietary Limited, and G. H. Scales (Pacific) Company Limited. On the other hand, the union stated it was agreeable to enter into an agreement with the employers to establish a system of co-operative stevedoring on all waterfronts on a national basis. The profits made by such an association would be utilised in making provision for a national capital fund to pay to members an annual bonus or dividend and a fund to pay a guaranteed _wage to [waterside workers. Special provisions were contained in the union's claim for waterside workers employed, at ship repair and overhaul work and slip work or dock work. A 40-hour five-day week was suggested, with a wage of 3s an hour for riggers and 2s lOd an hour for other workers. The employers sought to include a clause which provided that work shall always proceed in spite of any dispute arising. This they maintained, should be treated as one of the essences of the award. The right summarily to dismiss any worker for any wilful breach of the award or for other conduct was also included in their proposals.