WATERFRONT WAGES

Grey River Argus, 11 July 1945, Page 4

WATERFRONT WAGES

3/51 PER HOUR Increased by the Commission P.A. AUCKLAND, July 10. An increase of three and a-half pence an hour on the basic rate has been granted to the New Zealand waterside workers, under an order of the Waterfront Control Commission, according to a statement made by the Chairman of the Commission, Captain R. E. Price, on his arrival in Auckland from Wellington. Captain Price said that the new ordinary rate, including cost-of-living bonuses, would now be 3s s»d an hour, and that the payment would be made retrospective to April 1 last. The previous rate for the waterside workers was 2s lOd an hour, plus four pence an hour in cost-of-living bonuses. Captain Price explained that, although the increase of 3-d was on the basic rate, the total cost-of-living bonuses would remain at 4d, thus fringing the full hourly rate to 3s sid. Because of the casual nature of their employment, and of thp element of skill required, the waterside workers received proportionately a higher rate than unskilled general labourers, said Captain Price. As in the past, the Commission had given this aspect due consideration in granting the increase.’ Consideration erf the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union’s claims for an increased rate of 3id was deferred for some time while the Commission awaited the decision by the men to return to the normal hours of working. The granting of the increased rate follows the national decision of the Union, last week, to meet the Commission’s requests for a return to the longer working hours. The Commission’s staff is at present facing an intricate problem in working out the new overtime and special rates. They will also have a difficult task in computing amounts due to the individual men for the hours worked at various rates since April 1. It is also predicted that, there will be a few men who have since left Auckland, or nonunionists who worked a few odd days and nights during their holidays, and who will not bother to collect the retrospective amounts due to them. The staff exnect that they will be embarrassed in having to hold sums of money for some years in case late claims come in.