MINERS’ HOLIDAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1945, Page 8

MINERS’ HOLIDAY

TREBLE RATES PAYABLE The holidays for ’coal mine workers are to be curtailed by three days, at the Christmas period, states a circular issued by the Mines Department .to colliery owners, mine managers and union secretaries. Work is to be resumed on Monday, January 7, and for that day and the two following days which are substituted days for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day,, treble time rates are to be paid. The holiday period for the mines is to be from December 24 to January 4, both days inclusive. Daily wage workers, contract workers and hewers are to be paid 13 days’ holiday pay before Christmas —10 days in respect of the annual holiday and 3 days for the colliery holidays on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. . “In view of the serious coal position,” continues the circular, “the United Mine Workers have agreed to work being resumed on January 7. Double time rates shall be payable in addition to the holiday pay for work done on January 7, B'and 9. Any additional cost to coal mine owners in giving effect to the foregoing will be met by way of subsidy.” Should men who work during the Christmas holiday period elect to take their holidays at a later period they will not be entitled to any additional holiday payment. Men who do not work on any day during the fortnight ending December 21 shall not be entitled to be paid for the three colliery holidays. Should, however, the mine manager be satisfied that an employee who did not work within that fortnight was absent during the whole of that period on account of ill-health, or for any other valid reason, the worker may be paid for the' three days.