COAL MINERS

Evening Star, Issue 16779, 6 July 1918, Page 10

COAL MINERS

QUESTION OF WAGES. SUGGESTIONS 15Y EMPLOYERS. BONUSES AND CONTRACT TRUCKING. [P?:a United Piikss Association.] 1 WKLLiNGTOX, July 5. The Coal "Mine Owners' Association yesterday considered the Miners' Federation's I request for an increase, or wages. Certain | maiiers were left in the hands of the «ce- ! culive. | lhe owners subsequently met the Acting Prime .Minister (,-dr James Allenl and tne J lions. W. U. S. MacDonuld, A. M. Mvcs, ! and W. 11. Merries. After discussion the I owners agreed to put their views in lhe I form ut a letter to lhe .Minister of Mines. j The Coal .Mine Owners' Association have | reported the result- of their deliberations jto the .Minister of -Mines. The following ! resolutions were passed unanimously: That as agreements have been entered into between individual coal mine owners and individual miners' unions, this asso- < ialion are of opinion that in the eonsideraiioi! of any question of varying terms any agteement should only he made between the contracting parties; Iheretore the request for a conference between the Coal .Mine Owners' Association and the Miners' Federation is unnecessary. That, as existing industrial agi cements made under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Acts have been only recently entered into between the miners' unions and the res.pcct.ve mining companies, and have still a considerable period of currency ; and as there are no justifiable grounds for any further increase in wages, in view of the fact that the earnings of coal mine workers who work full" availauTe time compare more than favorably with those of other classes of workers, the coal mine owivrs cannot see their way to agree to vary the terms of the existing agreements. That this meeting approve of the adoption of a bonus system, dependent upon full time being worked. That, in the opinion of the coal mine owners, the earnings of truckers can be considerably increased under the system of contract trucking, and the cord" mine owners are prepared to make suitable arrangements for the introduction of the contract system. The secretary's covering letter to the -Minister concludes: The association submit the above suggestions regarding a bonus system and contract trucking in the confident belief that if these, systems are given a fair trial they will result in a largely increased output of coal and in an increase in the earnings of the workers, and would prevent any possible cause- for grievance _existing in'the coal mines of tne Dominion so far as the earning I power of the workers is concerned. I i am further instructed to respectfully ask, if the Government approve (it the above proposals regarding the operation : of the. bonus system and "the adoption of j trucking by contract, and are of opinion that they would have the effects indi- i eated above, that strong representations ' should be made to the 'members of coa: i millers' unions throughout the Dominion, ami their patriotism "appealed to, with a view to securing the assistance of the ] workers to incu-ase the output of coal, i If the Government wfT! assist in this! way. and the workers will give lov- ' heip, my association are very earnest!• or "Minion that ••■ will have the desire'l results, and should ensure a continuance <u iuuusir.'-il peace in the coa! mines o. the Dominion for the period of the war

"SLAVES OF THE LAMP." TRADE UNION CO.MKDY IN \ THEATKi:. The e-jualitv of life as practised in communal settlements dais not appear to apply ti> members of theatrical unions, observes the .Sydney 'Sun':—A lamp was recently le:i behind by the property-man at one of the theatres, and when the scene-shifters were requested to remove it they said, '' I'll at ain't no scenery.'' As a. result a deadlock was reached, and the lamp remained. The scene-shifter put :t on to the propertvinan. the propertyman put it mi to the spot-light operator, the spot-light operator thought ft the work of the electrician, the electrician thought it the work of the calll-boy, hut the callboy, being the mighty atom of the theatre, told the, " stage-mana'yer. The complaint was well on its way to reaching the chief director when someone stole the lamp This is the story which has been going the rounds this week concerning a difference of opinion between members of the Tlieatricai Employees' Association and J. C. Williamson's, as the result of which twelve employees ceased work after giving the firm twenty-four hours' notice. Thetrouble, it is said, arose regarding certain work outlined in the award. A conference was held between tho parties before My Holme, with the result that the- men agret-d to resume duty on existing conditions. 'Tile interchangnability of work in subdepartments—scene shifting, property, and lights, proved a stumbling-block between the parties, and it was because they could not come to an agreement that the employees jjave the firm notice of intention to cease work. The question of demarcation among theatrical employees has besn *he source of frequent arguments in the past.