HARBOUR BOARD EMPLOYEES

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1930, Page 7

HARBOUR BOARD EMPLOYEES

APPLICATION FOR AWARD.

[PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, August 9.

Although the wharf labourers employed by the Wellington Harbour Board have not hitherto worked under the provisions of an award, they are to do so in the near future, when the special provisions have been decided upon, which will enable them to come under the control of the Builders’ and General Labourers’ Award. This was the outcome of a case heard in the Arbitration Court when a separate award was asked for, covering the work done by wharf -labourers.

Mr P, M. Butler, for the Union, said a peculiar position had arisen between the Union and the Harbour Board. If it had not been for the existence of the Arbitration Act, a very serious position might have come about. The Harbour Board had taken up the stand of ignoring the Union entirely. The Board declined to appear before the Conciliation Council. Ultimately, the case had come before the Arbitration Court. The men affected by the present application were engaged in road work, tipping work, and peculiar construction work. None of this could be brought under any existing award.

Mr W. J. Mount joy, for the employers, said the Union had to prove that the employees of the Harbour Board were not working under as favourable conditions as those under the labourers’ awards.

His Honor: Any organisation has a right to apply for a new award. It is just a question whether the workers could not come under an existing award.

After hearing the evidence. His Honor said the Court was not of one mind as to the course to take. The opinion of the majority was that tho Harbour Board should be a party to an award, and the parties should confer to frame special provisions to meet the special conditions, including the rate of wages.

Arrangements were made with counsel for a conference to determine the special provisions.