COAL MINERS’ WAGES

Evening Star, Issue 16845, 21 September 1918, Page 11

COAL MINERS’ WAGES

THE DISPUTE SETTLED. TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT. [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 20. Advice has been received that the coalmine owners’ offer to pay a bonus ot ( 1 per cent, to piece-workers and 10 per cent, to wages men has been accepted by the minors’ unions by a large majority, but the final returns are not completed. Tlie terms of settlement agreed upon at tho conference between the representatives of the association and the federation were . 1. That with a view to securing an amicable settlement of the dispute and accepting the assurance of the miners’ delegates that during tho term of the existing agreements the federation will undertake that no further Dominion coal labor disputes will arise, the mineownors’ offer to increase the _ existing bonuses by Ti per cent, to piece and contract workers and by 10 per cent, to wages men. 2. That the mine-owners undertake to supply the miners with explosives during the currency of the existing industrial agreements at prices at present being charged by the respective companies. The conference also discussed the question of providing moans whereby disputes occurring in individual mines during the currency of agreements might bo expeditiously and effectively dealt with, and in this way strikes, lock-outs, stop-work meetings, etc., prevented. In that connection a sub-committee was set up to draft proposals, which were agreed to as under by the conference, and have since been approved by the parties concerned .- 1. That any dispute which cannot be settled by the executive of the union and the management of the mine concerned shall bo referred forthwith to the District Disputes Committee. 2. Tlie District Disputes Committoo shall consist of three representatives appointed by each side, and shall deal with any matter which has not boon settled bv the means provided in clause 1 hereof; failing the settlement of any dispute by the District Disputes Committee, it shall he referred forthwith to tho National Disputes Committee. 3. The National Disputes Committee shall consist of three representatives appointed by tho coal-mine owners and three representatives appointed by the Now Zealand Minors’ Federation, and shall deal with such matters as are referred to them by the District Disputes Committee, 4. Either .party shall have the rigid, of appeal to tho National Disputes Committee. 6. Tho decision of tho National Disputes Committee shall he final and binding. It was agreed by both parties that no strike,* lock-out, or unnecessary* stoppage of work should take place in any mine till a dispute had been dealt with as provided for, tho decision of the National Committee to be loyally accepted. It was also agreed that nothing in the foregoing should bo construed to interfere with or curtail the rights of mine managers or officials in control of the working of mines or interfere with tho recognised functions of the local unions. Tho above conditions will remain in operation for 12 months from the date of ratification, and thereafter may be reviewed as may be decided upon.