CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 22462, 6 October 1936, Page 9

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

QUARRY WORKERS' DISPUTE NO AGREEMENT REACHES Matters of concern to quarry _ workers were discussed at • the meeting of the Conciliation Council this morning when the dispute between the Otago and Southland General Labourers, Builders’ Labourers, Quarry men s, and Coal Yard Employees’ Industrial Union of Workers, and 11 employers in Otago and Canterbury was heard. The commissioner (Mr S. Ritchie) presided, and there were present as assessors: Employers—Messrs R. A. Palmer, H. S. Bingham, and S. P. Shiel; applicants—Jdessrs W. 6. Cocking, A, B. Powell, and R. Harrison. Briefly, the applicants claimed that a week's work should not exceed 40 hours, all work in excess of that to be counted as overtime and paid for at the rate of double time till the ordinary time for commencing work next morning, if worked continuously. The minimum rates for workers engaged in that which relates to quarry work to be: Foreman of the quarry, not less than £6; all other employees, not less than £5 10s a week. Workmen to be entitled to nine statutory holidays on full pay, in addition to two weeks a year, to be granted during the summer season, vfhere reasonably necessary accommodation and sanitary accommodation to be provided py the employer and a modern first aid case, fully equipped, to be kept by the employer in a convenient and accessible place. Also one of the workers to hold a certificate of qualification in first aid. No one under the age of 18 to be allowed near the face of the quarry. All wages to be paid weekly on Fridays. Time lost through wet weather and through no fault of the employee not to be made up and to be paid for in full as if work bad been performed for the whole of the time declared wet by two-thirds of the men employed. Men compelled to work in bad or wet places to be paid fid an hour in addition to the ordinary rate of pay. .. .. The employers did not admit the claims of the applicants, and submitted, inter alia, the following proposals:—A week’s work to consist of 48 hours, all work done in excess of that to be counted as overtime and paid for at the rate of time and it-half for the first three hours and double time thereafter until the ordinary time for commencing work next morning, if worked continuously. Time and a-half to be paid for all time worked on New Year’s Day. Easter Monday, Labour Day, and Boxing Day, and double time to be paid tor all tuna worked on Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Sundays. Time worked on. Saturday afternoon to bo paid for at the rate of time and a-half. The minimum wages to be as follows:—Workers employed in squaring stone, getting out pitchers, building stone, . kerbstone, and paving stone ready for masons, 2s an hour. Certified men using explosives, Is ll}d an hour. Workers using explosives where _ the quarry face is less than 20ft in height, Is lid an hour; all other workers. Is lOd an hour; tar workers, while so employed. Is lid an hour. Provision is made for the provision of accommodation and sanitation, as well as a modem first aid emergency case. One youth may be employed on each quarry at the following rates:—From 17 to 18 years of age, Is an hour; from 18 to 19 years <3 age, Is lid an hour; from 19 to 20 years. Is 3d an hour, \ll wages to bo paid weekly or fortnightly on either Friday or Saturday. Casual employees to be paid for ail time for which they are ordered—to stand by on the work. Alter discussing the claims and counter-claims during the morning tht council adjourned till October 28.