DOBSON MINE DISPUTE OVER TIME ALLOWANCE FOR CAVIL TRANSFERS

Grey River Argus, 24 April 1948, Page 4

DOBSON MINE DISPUTE OVER TIME ALLOWANCE FOR CAVIL TRANSFERS

The two hundred men employed at the Dobson State coal mine left their joos at mid-day yesterday and the ■ mine was idle lor the rest of the day, following a dispute with the mine management about two hours’ free time usually allowed the men at the end of the cavil for tool shifting to their new places in the mines, x'his two hours oft, which was arranged in the agreement with the men, was not granted yesterday, the mine manager, Mr J. Quinn, stating last, night, that with the operation ot the sevennour day. it did not apply. Mr Quinn said the two hours time at the end of the cavil was cmy operative where the men worked eignt hours a day, and fo.r lesser daily periods, it was not granted. As the men were now on the seven-hour day, they were not entitled to the time oft. MINERS’ VIEW However, the miners claim that the introduction of the seven-hour day does not effect their time off at the end of the cavil period to shift tools etc. It has been the established custom, and in the agreement with the management that the time off has hitherto operated. As it was the men were not receiving an hour’s pay, the other being their lunch hour. During the war, they stated, a Saturday shift had only been seven hours, when a Saturday coincided with the end of the cavil and the men had only worked seven hours, the two hours off was granted. That was the same case as yesterday, and yet yesterday when the appointed hour for knocKing off arrived no trolley was sent down to collect the miners.

PROBABLY RESUME ON MONDAY It was stated that the matter will go before the Disputes committee, put that it was expected that no further time would be lost through the incident and that the men would resume on Monday as usual. On Mondav, the miners are working generally at the special request ox tiie Government, and payment for that day will be at triple the ordinary rate.