BLACKBALL ROAD WORKERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 July 1936, Page 2

BLACKBALL ROAD WORKERS

DEMANDS FOR PAY. Dissatisfaction among the workmen on the Blackball-Brunner road, at not receiving their pay before the end of this week, has resulted in two deputations to the Public Works Department. Last evening, a large deputation arrived from the job and demanded their wages from the Department, but as the pays had not been made up, they could not be paid. As promised last evening, the men returned this morning, headed by Mr W. Wallwork, an official of the Workers’ Union (Brunner-Blackball road branch), and again made a demand for their wages. The men were received by officials of the Department, and it was agreed that the wages men be paid this morning, and tjie co-opera-tive men on Monday. The men were advised that, in future, payment would be made, on the job, by the fourth working day after the measureup- , , The measure-up this wee:-: took place on Wednesday. The new Public Works Workers’ Agreement, under which the men on the BrunnerBlackball road are working, states that in the case of co-operative contractors, the interval between the date of measure-up, and the actual monthly pay-day, shall not exceed eight days, so that the men will now be paid well within the agreement, as Monday will be only the third working day, since meafeure-up. Day-wages men, according to the agreement, are to be paid in full, twice during each monthly period. Interviewed by a “Star” reporter, this morning, Mr Wallwork stated that he had no statement to make, but added that a satisfactory arrangement had been made with the Department. An official of the Department stated that every endeavour was made by the Public Works office to pay the men as soon as possible, and a great deal of overtime was worked. The Brunner-Blackball road was not the only work the Greymouth office had in hand.