WORK AND WAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16192, 19 March 1913, Page 9

WORK AND WAGES.

THE GAS STRIKE.

United Press Association—By Eleotrin Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, March 18.

A sequel of the strike of the ga» employees is that the Union, with the assent of the companies, has applied to the Arbitration Court for the cancellation of the present agreements between the parties, with a view to sub* stituting a Wages Board. The hearing is not finished.

SOUTHERN MINERS,

FOUR THOUSAND MEN OUT. THE TROUBLE SPREADINGSYDNEY, March 18. Nearly 4000 southern colliers are out, and there are indications of a prolonged struggle. The Kembla, and probably the Keira, men will join the strike to-day. An aggregate meeting of miners is called for Wednesday, and Mr M'Gowen and other Ministers are asked to attend.

There is much indignation at the news that application has been made to debar Peter Bowling and other' union officials from addressing meetings during the present trouble. The Delegate Board passed a resolution emphatically protesting against the application, alleging that none of' the officials have said or done anything- to justify such action. . .; > : i WHEAT LOADING BLOCKED^ SYDNEY, March 18/ ' The loading of the wheat ships at Darling Harbour has again been blocked, the wharf labourers declining to work with casual hands. ' ." (Received March 18, 9.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 18,. ■ The trouble with the Darling Har- ! bour wharf workers has been settled: MELBOURNE GAS MEN. - MELBOURNE, March /18.Following the lead of Sydney, the gas employees have presented a claim before the Arbitration Court for better working conditions and higher wages. MARINE ENGINEERS. '. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 18.; The Marine Engineers' Institute is taking steps to have several of ibe smaller shipping companies joined as parties to the agreement recently arrived at with the Union Company. In a day or two- an application probably will be filed to join the Blackball Coal Company, Westport Coal Company, Maoriland Steamship Cfempany, Anohor, Steamship Company and Canterbury Steamship Company as parties, . but only in respect to such of their, vessels as come within the scope of the present agreement. Vessels of .small, enginepower will, for a time at any rate, continue to be exempt. THE SLAUGHTERMEN. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 18...': In anticipation of the decision of the Arbitration Court in the Appeal or.the Ngahauranga Slaughtermen's. Uni6n several applications have been made for registration from centres in the Weir, lington industrial district. The Registrar has received applications from unions at Wanganui (Castlecliff), Waitara and Longburn, and it is expected that registratipn will be granted iittmediately when all the ! applicants have complied with the formalities necessary under the Act. The Wellington Slaughtermen's Union held a meeting at Petone last evening. Mr M. J. Reardon waq present, and there was a good attendance, considering the number of slaughtermen who have left the district. If is understood that the meeting re-affirm-ed its decision not to " throw in the Bponge," but decided to hold out till next season. DOMINION AWARD. CLOTHING TRADE EMPLOYEES. The award of the Arbitration Court in the dispute between the New- Zealand Federated Tailoresses' and Other Clothing Trade Employees' Industrial Association of Workers and the- New Zealand Wholesale Clothing Manufacturers' Industrial Association of Employers has been given. It will. come into force on March 31" next and expire on March 17, 1916. ' The classes of workers recognised by the award are journeywomen, journeymen, apprentices, improvers and underrate workers. TATLORESSES' CLAUSES.

The hours for all classes are fortyfive per week. The apprenticeship for females, other than those engaged in shirtmaking, is to be two years- and each worker is to serve a term of two years as an improver. Wages to < be paid to apprentices and improvers weekly are fixed as follow:—First six months ss, second six months 7s 6d, third 10s, fourth 12s 6d, fifth 155,. sixth 17s 6d,'.seventh £l, and eighth £1 2s 6d. At the end of: the fourth, year the worker may be employed as an improver for another year at 25sr a week. There is to be no limitation to the number of apprentices employed and an apprentice must serve the full period and be taught all the work done in the branch to which she is apprenticed. The employer is not to dismiss an apprentice for want of work_ but must find her another employer within reasonable distance. Three months' probation shall be allowed the first emEloyer of any apprentice to determine er fitness, but that time must be inr eluded in the period ofj apprenticeship. Journeywomen s wages are to. be 27s 6d a week and overtime must be in accordance with the Factories Act, 1908, and its amendments. MALE MACHINISTS. The minimum wage for male machinists employed in any departmtmfc i* fixed at £2 15s a week. ; T.:' CUTTERS. , ;: The minimum wage for a secondclass chart cutter is £3 per week, for a stock cutter and trimmer £2 15s, and for an examiner in charge, of a finishing room £2 12s 6d. Any time worked beyond the ordinary hours in any one day must be deemed overtime and must be paid for at the rate of time and a quarter for the first three hours and time and a half afterwards. Double rates must be paid for any work on Sundays and certain holidays. Piecework is not allowed. Apprentices must servo five years ana be' paid 10s a week for the first year. 15s for the second, £1 2s 6d for the third, £1 10s for .the fourth and £2 for the fifth. The proportion of apprentices. is to be one apprentice to two journeymen or the first fraction of two. Where one apprentice only is allowed the employer may, during the third vear of the first apprentice, take into his employ a second. ' The first emplover may take on a youth on threW, months' probation. '■ PRESSERS. Pressors are to be paid, at the option of the employer, either a minimum wage of £2 15s per week or the piecework rates specified in the log. Casual workers are to be_paid not }*.«l than Is 4Jd per hour. There ean 'toe one apprentice for the first three or less journeymen, for more than three men and up to six men two apprentices, and so on in the same propor-: Apprenticeship shall be for two

years'and" the wages "are fixed at £1 per, week for the first year, £1 5s for the following six months and £1 10s for the remaining six months. The 6ame iperiod, of probation is inserted in this' section ■ as in the previous sections.' >■;•,. GENERAL PROVISIONS. «Any time lost through the default of a'worker or; by reason of • any breakdown or"accident to,the machinery used by the employer, or owing to shortage of work, causing a temporary ■ suspension,' is to be deducted from employees' wages, provided the time lost exceeds one continuous hour. No wages need be paid for time lost through tho factory being closed for the annual holidays, public holidays or for stocktaking or cleaning promises, but this clause is subject to certain provisions of the Factories Aot, 19C8. When Blackness of work or other cause makes it necessary for the employees to work Bhort time the work is to be distributed as evenly as possible among all classes of workers. Twenty-four hours'' notice of the termination of employment must be given by either side. Underrate workers and preference clauses are included in the award. THE BONUS SYSTEM.

i "In all oases" the award states, " where a bonus is paid to workers it shall be the duty of the employer to ■ state to the workers concerned the basis on which the bonus is calculated, eo that each worker may know the • amount he or she is entitled to receive and bo able to check the calculation thereof." ; A memorandum attached to the award deals with the principal alterations, and explains the payment of bonuses clause.