LABOUR TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1937, Page 7

LABOUR TROUBLE

DOCKYARD ENGINEERS. (Australian Press Association). SYDNEY, September 17. The engineers employed at the Co--1 ckatoo and Morts Docks lately decided to strike for a month, owing to a dispute concerning special margin allowed for ship repair work. Judge Beeby, in the Arbitration Court, ordered the men to return to work by .Monday next, failing which he wouldrevoke the clause in their award allowing a special margin of 3s weekly for ship repairs. The men to-day ignored the Judge’s threat, and will serve fresh demands on the employers. About 240 engineers are involved. NO GOOD FRIDAY PAY. v (Per Press Association— Copyright). NELSON, September 17. A decision of importance to fruitgrowers was delivered bv the Magistrate (Mr Maun sell) this morning the effect of which is that casual orchard hands need not l>e paid for the Good Kridav holiday.

As a test case, a charge was made against Arthur McKee, of employing an agricultural worker in an orchard, and failing to allow a holiday on Good Friday, without deduction, and the information was dismissed.

The Magistrate held that Section ;JA of the Agricultural Workers’ Extension Order was ultra vires. Further that the clause did not extend to casual workers. “There must necessarily he continuity of relationship. It is obviously repugnant to treat a casual engagement- as continuous. Had the Friday not been a holiday, the employee may or may not receive casual employment. At any rate, he had not a contractual right to such employment, therefore there was no failure to pay wages in breach of the extension order.”

BUILDING TRADE WAGES. WELLINGTON, September 16. The continuation of the Conciliation Council hearing of the builders’ contractors’, and general labourers’ dispute was heard in Wellington. Agreements reached affect all Industrial districts in the Dominion, apart from the northern industrial districts. The wage rates agreed to were based on the minimum rate of 2s 4d an hour, as set out in the Arbitration Court’s pronouncement, with additional proportionate payments for special workers as set out in the present Wellington award. The following are the hourly rates agreed on ror special workers: —Scaffolders, 2s 7cl; tunnel and timber men, 2s 7d; explosive men, 2s o-Jd; asphalt and tile workers, 2s 6d; concrete workers, 2s 4-’-d; dog men, power crane men, and power winchmen operating winches ot 15 horse-power or more in building operations, 2s 7d; men using pneumatic hammers, drills, rammers, borers, or breakers 2s 6d (when such men are employed in tunnelling or in quarrying the rate is to be 2s 7d) ; men cleaning or clearing blocked sewers or drains, etc., 2s a day extra: demolition workers or men engaged in repairs to buildings or fittings destroyed or damaged by fire who have to handle charred timber 2s Od an hour; workers engaged in demolition work, 2s O 2 (1 •

Men employed sinking shafts, sumps, pierholcs, or working in trenches of more than six feet depth shall be paid the following rates: More than six feet and up to and including 12 feet', 2s Gd, more than 12 feet, and up to and including 20 ieet, 2s 7d ; more than 20 feet, 2s 7d; plus Id an hour for every seven feet more than 20 feet.

The new rates of wages are to operate from the date of the agreement, September 16, 1937. The term of the award is 12 months. Workers governed by this award arc to work a 40hour five-day week, the daily hours to be between 7.30 a.m., and 5 p.m.