GUARANTEED WAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1946, Page 2

GUARANTEED WAGES

CHAIRMAN EXPLAINS HIS DECISION £325 A YEAR, PLUS PROFITS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 5. The-chairman of the Waterfront Industry Commission, > Mr. Justice Ongley, said to-day that the commission met yesterday afternoon to consider the action taken by- the Auckland, Wellington, and New Plymouth branches of the Waterside Workers’ Union in introducing a five-day, 40hour week as a protest against his decision on a guaranteed wage for waterside workers. Union representatives on the commission submitted a statement from their national executive which directed all major and secondary ports to introduce immediately a 40-hdur week between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday inclusive. It was stated that this action was a protest against the chairman’s decision on the guaranteed wage case, and would continue until a decision satisfactory to the union had been brought down. The union also submitted further, demands for increases in wages, improvement in accommodation and amenities, and also a demand for the abolition of engagement of labour on Saturday mornings.

The commission discussed the matter with a view to obtaining a resumption of normal hours of work, but could reach no agreement. Union representatives on the commission said they could not agree to vary'the decision of their national executive, which represented its minimum demands. The employers’ representatives said that while they considered the chairman’s decision regarding the guaranteed wage favoured the worker, it was the legal decision of the commission, and should be upheld. It was pointed out that the commission could continue to function only as long as its authority was observed, and in the circumstances the chairman considered that the impasse which had been reached should be reported to the Government. “This has now been done,” Mr. Justice Ongley added, “and it rests with the Government to determine future policy in connection with the commission.”

Principles Established The chairman said some workers might not be clear as to what was meant by his decision, and in order to clarify the position he desired to explain the decision as follows: — “(a) First, the principle is established that men required to attend for employment should receive reasinable payment for attending if they are not given employment, and to bring that principle into effect I decided that where men were required to attend calls for labour, and attended and did not receive engagement from 8 a.m., they would be paid for the period of the call at the rate of pay applicable, which is at most ports two hours at 3/s■>, equals 6/11, Mondays to Fridays inclusive; and on Saturday morning, two hours at 5/01, equals 10/OA. At some ports there is more than one call a day, usually of one hour duration per call. Attendance payment is estimated to cost £40,000 per annum. ' “(b) Second? the'principle is established that men required to give service in this key industry should get a reasonable livelihood in return for such service. To give effect to this principle the decision provides that A grade waterside workers at all main, and such secondary ports as may from time to time be determined, would -be" guaranteed work in each four-weekly period to the value of £25, or failing the provision of such work should be paid that sum. B grade waterside workers are guaranteed work to the value of £2l. Guaranteed Income “This guarantee ensures that an A grade worker will receive at least £325 per annum, and a B grade worker £273 per annum. This does not take into account any profit distribution under the contracting system, which now amounts to approximately £200,000 per annum, and means a further payment of an average of £4O per man per annum. As work is regular and plentiful at main ports, the guarantee may not benefit workers at those ports very much at present, but it will be of immediate benefit to secondary ports. _ It is a guarantee of livelihood in slack periods, and during such periods may be of greater benefit to workers than their original claim. If a worker has earned his £25 in a four-weekly period he continues, of course, to receive attendance money when not employed.

“(c) Third, the principle is established that labour for the industry should be efficient, regular, and mobile, that there should be no waste of labour in the industry, and that all services paid for should be fairly rendered. Before the attendance payment and the guaranteed wage can come into operation, reasonable relaxation in the present restrictions on the transfer and mobility of labour is necessary. The system known as ‘spelling’ in operation at some ports, whereby men in certain cases work hour-about, is to cease, and a reasonable method adopted for men to relieve one another during ‘smoke’ periods.” The chairman also referred to the fact that the Waterfront Industry Commission had, since its appointment, granted improvements in conditions by way, of payment for statutory holidays, payment of meal money when overtime was worked, and increased pay on Saturday morning from time and a-quarter to time and a-half. These improvements were estimated to cost £lBO,OOO per an.num. -