GOLD MINERS’ WAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 July 1931, Page 5

GOLD MINERS’ WAGES

REDUCTION AUTHORISED. f

CHRISTCHURCH, July 10. Reductions in wages in the New Big River mine and in the Alexandra mine are contained in the award which has been made by the Arbitration Court in the dispute between the gold mining companies in the Reefton district and the Inangahua Gold and Coal Mine Union. The reductions are one shilling a day for certain classes ot workers in the Alexandra mine and sixpence a day for certain workers in the New Big River mine. All wages are, in addition, subject to a 10 per cent. cut. An alteration has also been made to the clauses governing the hours of work.

The minimum daily rates of wages set out in the award are as follow: Underground.—Miners working with machines in rises and winzes 16/6, all other miners 16/-, truckers 15/-, chambermen 16/-, bracemen 16/-, mullockers and shovellers 15/-, timbermen and repairers 16/-, repairers in shafts and rises 17/-, winchmen requiring winding-drivers’ certificates 16/6, winchmen not requiring certificate 15/6, pipe-fitters and platelayers 16/-. Surface. — Winding-engine drivers 17/6, winding-engine drivers requiring both first-class stationary and winders’ certificates 19/8, stationaryengine drivers where first-class certificate is required 16/6, stationary engine drivers where first-class certificate is not required 15/6, general blacksmiths 18/4, strikers 14/6, toolsharpeners 17/-, carpenters 17/6, millwrights 17/6, timber-framers 17/6, truckers on surface 15/-, aerial brakesmen 15/-,. other aerial men 15/-, amalgamators 16/-, vanner and other concentrating men 14/6, stone-breaker men 14/6, battery-feeders 14/6, cyanide men handling solution 15/-, cyanide-men not handling solution 14/6, firemen 15/-, labourers, pick-and-shovel men 15/-, other labourers 14/6, winchmen 15/-. The clauses relating to special mines read as follows: —The rates for workers in the New Big River Mine shall be 1/6 higher than the rates above specified, providing that work shall not be performed below No. 3 level. If work is performed below No. 3 level, the rate for underground workers shall be 2/- higher than the rates above specified. The rates for workers in the Alexandra mine shall be 3d higher than the rates specified in sub-clause (a) hereof. The above rate shall be paid in respect of all shifts, but on Saturdays half a shift shall be worked and paid for in the case of all workers other than battery workers, and three-fourths of a shift shall be worked and paid for in the case of battery workers. Under ground workers working on the night shift will be paid for forty-five hours, but will work forty-three hours only. Men taken from their usual employment to do other work exceeding two successive shifts shall be paid the rate applicable to the latter employment, and the same hours of labour shall be observed.

A special clause has been added to the award, providing that by agreement between the employers and the union, the provisions of the award respecting hours may be varied in respect of any mine or mines, so as to permit eleven shifts to be worked in a. fortnight, each alternate Saturday being an off day, except for necessary repair work, which shall be paid for at rates fixed in accordance with the custom heretofore prevailing. The only other alteration to the existing award is the inclusion of a clause providing for a 10 per cent, cut in accordance with the General Order made by the Court on May 29 last. Tho award will continue in force until July 20, 1932.