THE COAL CRISIS

Grey River Argus, 17 September 1918, Page 4

THE COAL CRISIS

I WHAT THE OWNERS OFFER

PROPOSALS FOR SETTLEMENT

SUBMITTED TO UNIONS. At the meetings of the various niners' Unions the proposals of the recent conference for a settlement ot the wa-es dispute have been submitted to the miners in the following form by the Executive of the Miners' Federation: — Dear Comrades.— After several weeks of strenuous effort on the part of your Executive to win National Kccognition for the Miners Federation and at the same time, to affect a settlement in the demand for a 20 per cent increase in wages, we are now pleased to say thafl we have gained unconditional recognition, and have arrived at a conclusion in respect to the demand for the 20 per cent increase, which conclusion is subject to your endorsement. The conclusion in i-espeet l>o the increase in wajges is as follows: — (1) That existing bonuses be increased by 7£ per cent to all piece contract workers, aud 10 per cent to all wages men. (2) The price i of explosives not to be increased dur>ng the currency of the existing agreement. (3) That such increase to operate from the 21st September and that a ballot be immediately taken and results forwarded directly to National Secretary. Your Executive feels that they have got the employers and Government to concede as large an increase I as they are prepared to give, and that I the rejection of this offer, would necessitate a national conflict. After taking all the circumstances into consideration, and the huge possibilities - against a conflict your Executive unanimously recommend the rank and file » of the organisation to accept the above conclusions as a settlement of I the dispute. We recommend that a 1 ballot on the acceptance or the rei jection of the proposals be taken at the mine mouth, and that a blank piece of paper be used, and the words "Yes" or "No" be written thereon • by the member. .

Finally, we wish to say, that we have no apology to make in recommending the acceptance of the above proposals, as we feel that the proposals submitted, are, taking everything into consideration, a very satisfactory settlement.

An additional provision in the settlement proposals is that for a tribunal to settle local disputes In order to avoid any delay in working The ballot takes place to-morrow.