LIVERPOOL MINE IDLE

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 January 1933, Page 7

LIVERPOOL MINE IDLE

SHIFTMAN AS SHOT-FIRER A WAGES DISPUTE The Liverpool State mine was idle, to-day, following the withholding of a shiftman’s lamp, this morning. The miners held a stop-work meeting at the pit-mouth, and it was decided not to work, to-day. Foi’ the management, it is claimed that a shiftman refused to go on shot firing, yesterday afternoon, when re quested to do so by one of the mine officials. It has been the practice for this man to go shot-firing, if any of the deputies were absent, and it is difficult for the management to understand why he refused to do so yesterday afternoon. For shot-firing, the rate of pay is 18/- per shift, whereas the shiftman’s rate is only 16/2. When employed on shot-firing, he was paid the shot-firer’s rate. In the industrial agreement, it is distinctly stipulated that a workman employed on day wages shall perform any class of work he may be required to do, in or about the mine, and, if instructed by the manager or by a deputy, he shall remove from one place to another where his services may be required. In another part of the agreement, it is stated that any workman who refuses or neglects to carry out the instructions of the management, shall be liable to instant dismissal. Although the mine manager could, if he desired, have dismissed this man for disobeying instructions, he was penalising him by making him have one day off only.

For the miners, it is claimed the shiftman, who had been employed on his ordinary work yesterday morning, was requested to go on shot-firing at I. p.m., and that he asked the official whether he would be paid shot-fir-er’s wages from 1.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. The official replied, “If you don’t like it, put your coat on and go home." The man continued to work as a shiftman yesterday afternoon. This morning, he again asked the official what the position was, with regard to payment for shot-firing for half a day, but he could not get any satisfaction, merely being told that he could not go into the mine to-day. A stop-work meeting was held at the pit-mouth, and the remainder of the men decided to go home for the day. INJURIES TO MINERS. Three men were injured at the Liverpool State mine, yesterday. A trucker, G. Newton, and a miner, J. O’Neill, had several of their fingers crushed, when they were caught between trucks. A shiftman, G. Walker, was injured by a fall of stone, which took place while he was engaged in removing some timber which had been withdrawn. Walker was admitted to the Grey River Hospital, and it was reported, to-day, that his condition is satisfactory, his injuries not being o‘f a serious nature.