TRUCKING BONUS

Grey River Argus, 25 August 1945, Page 3

TRUCKING BONUS

Co-operative Mines DISPUTE SETTLED The following delegates met the Under-Secretary of Mines (Mr. C. H. Benney), at Dunollie yesterday to confer on a dispute over the nonpayment of a contract trucking bonus: Messrs F. Holmes (Vice-Pre-sident) and D. Barnes (Secretary) of the Ruanga Co-operative Miners’ Union; Messrs T. Grey (President), R. McTagart, junior, (Secretary), S. Morris and J. Kelly, representing the Co-operative Mine Owners; and Messrs F. Baxendale ('President) and W. Purdy (Secretary) of the Grey Miners’ Control Committee. Mr. Barnes stated last night tnat an agreement had been decided' upon, but that it awaited ratification of a general meeting of the Union to be held to-morrow morning. The dispute concerned the non-payment of a contract trucking bonus of 2s 2d a day, which the men state is due to them for the three months, May to August of last year. About 50 men are affected. Since the price of coal has been stabilised each increase in wages has been borne by the Government, this arrangement being effective tor State, privately and co-operatively owned mines. It is understood tnat the men claim the payment in dispute was authorised by the coal Council, but that the Mines Department has so far declined to make the payment.