COAL MINERS' CONDITIONS

Evening Star, Issue 17085, 2 July 1919, Page 6

COAL MINERS' CONDITIONS

FRESH DEMAjNDS. HEW AGREEMENT ASKED FOR. Tito New Zealand Coal, Cold, Shale, Quarry, and Tunnel Workers’ Federation, have forwarded to the _ New Zealand Coal Mine Owners’ Association proposals for >a new agreement for the Dominion. The new demands include the foHowing: Abolition of the contract system. That miners be paid £1 per day.; truckers and horse-drivers, 17s 6d per day; men in charge of rope road, 17s 9u; rope road workers over 19., 17s 6d; IS to 19 years, 14s 7d; 17 to 18, 12s lid; 16 to 17, 11s Sd; 15 to 16, 9a 9cL Screen workers, 19 years and over, 16s 3d per dav; 16 to 19 years, 15a 9dj 17 to 18, 2s‘2d; 16 to 17, 9s sd-; 15 to 16, 9s; 15, 7s 3d. Tippers, 16s 3d per day ; lamp trimmers, 16s 3d,; carpenters, 16s 4d j blacksmiths and tool sharpeners, 18s 4d; yardmen and other outside workers, 16a Sd. The hours of work shall be seven from bank to .hank, this to come into force immediately; and on January 1, 1921, the hours shall ho reduced to six, bank to bank. Pay to bo weekly ©very Friday afternoon. Every .Saturday to be an idle day. No coal to be hewe'd other than on day shift. Any worker employed on back shift to receive 10 per cent, above schedule rates. The hours of work in wet places shall be five (bunk to bank). Should any dispute arise in regard to a wot place, it shall bo settled by the manager and the ciicck inspectors. The company to provide suitable waterproof covering where necessary, A plentiful supply of drinking water in each mine. I\o trucking to bo done by miners. Christmas holidays to be from December 25 to January 5, both days inclusive, Easter holidays to be from Good Friday to Easter Tuesday, both days inclusive. Other holidays to be as follows:—May Day, St. Patrick's Day, and Labor Day. "Should any agreement holiday fall mi a Sunday or pay Saturday another day to bo substituted, as may be mutually arranged. Any person employed on Sundays or agreement holidays to be paid double time. ALL rails to bo laid by roadmen. Short rails to be provided for each place. if any employer shall employ any worker who shall not be a member of the union, and who within 14 days after his engagement shall not become a member of the union and remain such member, the employer shall dismiss such worker from his service if requested to do so by tho union. Not more than one shift to ,be worked in 24 hours. Special work to be arranged between tho union and the manager. The company to provide free light, tools, and house coal to all workers. In tlie event of a fatal accident occurring in or about Um mine all members of the union shall cease work .till after the funeral. All workers shall be granted a fortnight’s holiday in each year on full pay, same to bo from December 25 to January 5, inclusive. In the event of any man being home through any cause other than his own, ho be paid by the company for the time lost. The employers ahull pay for time lost by workmen in conveying or attending injured workers.