BACK SATURDAY.

Grey River Argus, 1 April 1922, Page 4

BACK SATURDAY.

SHORT-SHIFT QUESTION. (Our Blackball Correspondent.) Seeing that the Inspector of Awards has worked his way into print re the short back-shift dispute, the facts of the case from the Blackball Miners’ Union point of view should be in order. At the Blackball mine, what is known as the double shift, or two coal-produc-ing shifts in one day, has been in vogue for quite a number of years, and a custom had become established for the coal hewers to fill their turn as quickly as possible on the back shifts on pay Friday and back Saturday, and then go home. As a result, very few were left in the mine after 7.30 p.m. The truckers used to come out along with the miners, and receive a full shift’s pay for their work. These short shifts enable the miner and the women folk to participate in what little social enjoyment, such as dances, pictures, etc., that happens to be going, which is generally at week-ends, and. consequently much appreciated. Everything went along all right until we, ’along with other Miners’ Unions, got involved in the National Agreement dispute. The Blackball Coal Co. at this stage showed the truckers the point of paying them for the short shifts on the basis of time worked. As a result the truckers declined to go into the pit unless guaranteed a full day’spay. The company ultimately made a.request for a conference to discuss the matter. This was arranged and the company, without very much argument, that the miners were justified from a C social point of view, in working the \ short shift, and that they (the company) were prepared to admit the principle, providing set hours could be agreed upon. These were fixed at six hours back shift pay Friday, and seven hours front shift back Saturday, and six hours back shift back Saturday. These conditions were accepted by the Union, and it was agreed upon verbally between the Union and the management that the matter was definitely settled. When the present Westland award came into operation, we were informed by the manager that it took precedence over any award or arrangement then operating, although he personally was not against the previous arrangement re the short shifts. , He said he was working under instructions from the Coal Owners’ Association. The miners and truckers decided not to forego the custom of short shifts at week-ends, and no work on these shifts was the result. The Union representatives saw the manager several times about the matter, and he informed them that the question was* to be discussed at the annual meeting of the Coal Owners’ Association, to be held the first week in February, and his information was that they were prepared to grant the concession requested. M e found out later that the matter had never been discussed by the coal owners, and wo were further informed they intended to adhere strictly to the award. We challenge the coal owners and the Blackball Company, in particular, to prove that the fortnightly average of coal produced in these short shifts is not main-

tained. M'here also is their oft-repeat-ed statement that they desired to uplift the social life of the miners? Mr. Louden makes the thinly-veiled suggestion that we have our remedy by applying to the Court for an amendment. The Blackball Company admitted the short shift principle, under previous 'arbitration awards, without our making ; b • application for an amendment. Why h. somersault now? Is it because they think they have th*' ml vantage, or do thev hi--;- ’’■• wmh to try to popularise their Arult.a lun Court? Such shallow tactics will deceive no one. The stubborn attitude of the coal owners in. general, and the Blackball Company in this particular business, needs a lot of < xplaining, particularly in view of the fact that two of their representatives, Messrs Brown and Bayne, whilst acting as assessors for the State, readily agreed to the clause in dispute going in the State miners’ agreement. Since then Air Bayne has intimated to the workers of Roa that his directors agree to the short shift principle without the necessity of any application being made to the Arbitration Court. Is the Blackball Union any more advanced than the members of the State and Roa Unions? I don’t think so. Probably the Department of Labour and the Blackball Coal Company can explain why we are singled out for discrimination,