SEAMEN'S PAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10566, 20 April 1928, Page 5

SEAMEN'S PAY.

BIG INCREASE DEMANDED. N UMERO, U S CON CESSIQN S WANTED. FORTY-FOUR HOUR WEEK ASKED. sPreaa Association.) , W ELi/iiN OTOiN, April 19Notwithstanding the fact that ships representing a considerable tonnage- are laid up ni the Dominion ports owing to slackness m certain trades," and that a large number of seamen are consequently unI employed, the- New Zealand Sea--1" men’s Union lias presented lengthy demands to the N.Z. shipowners for a forty-four hour week, considerable increases -in wages, numerous eou'cessions involving large increases in the cost of operating ships, and many privileges in respect working conditions riot covered by the existing agreement which expires on June 30, 1928. The seamen seek an all-round increase in wages of- nearly £2 per month the new demands being as follow, the present scale being given in parentheses : —Boatswain, iirst able seaman, lamp -trimmer, and A.B. £lB (£lB 4s); quartermaster, ■ lamp, trimmer, A.B. £l7 (£ls 4s); ordinary A.B. (IS years or over) £l2 5s (£lO 9s); under 18 years £ll (£9 4s); boys (17 or over) £ll (£5); donkeyman and. foreman greaser in ships carrying the engineer £2O (£lB 14s); donkeyman £2O (£lB 4s>), fireman and greaser in skips carrying one engineer £l9 10s (£l7_l4s), fireman, oilburncr storekeeper, -greaser storekeeper, and greaser £l9 (£l7 4s), trimmer and wiper £l7 (£io 4s Od), attendant £l7 (£lO Its &&)• The drastic alteration of one month s wages in addition to- any overtime earned is sought where ships are withdrawn from commission within one month, in place ol; the present 25 per cent. In addition to the rates of wages, some demands relate to seamen discharged through no fault of their own in one month. Seamen on the articles and required by ships to sleep and take meals on shore to be paid daily 10s per day, or 2-si or each meal, and 4s lor a bed. IfijM represents an increase of Is od in daily allowance and Is Gd in bed allowance. . , ■ The present- overtime is 2s Ja pci hour and demands are for 3s an hour for the first six hours and os 6d an hour thereafter. A 44-hour week is demanded. ; Drastic alterations are demanded m , 'the clause governing the hours ol / . payment of l nightwatclimen. lb o present hours, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., arc ■reduced to eight, 10 p.m. to- 6 a.m., with pay of 20s, or allowed 2-1 hours off in port for each hour kept as riightwatchman. This means -0 •hours off for this work or an increased payment of 4s. A twentyminute smoke also is demanded <at i 10 ' a.m. and 3 p.m. daily.- A'ho.liU day allowance of 22s 6d is demanded ,111 -addition to liolidav nay to which a. man who has served less than 12 ,- months but for more than # Six months - is entitled • when leaving a. ship. Tho time for the monthly Stop’worfe meeting, is asked to he extend-: cd to four hours instead of two hours. ■ vyL •