AUCKLAND TRAMWAYS DISPUTE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1251, 21 May 1918, Page 3

AUCKLAND TRAMWAYS DISPUTE.

TERMS OF NEW AGREEMENT. I'm Peess Association. AUCKLAND, May IS. The agreement in (ho Auckland tramways dispute was signed this morning aa a result of the sittings of the third committee, lasting fiom Wednesday, There wore three representatives of each party, the Hon G. Fowlds being chairman with a casting vote. t hi;; morning Mr Fowlds announced that after considerable discussion it was found that the parties were unable to agree regarding rates of wages, and he therefore intimated that ho v. as prepared to support an increase of wages-on the following basis: Where wage; aieat present less than 13d per hour, an increase of li,d per hour; where wages are 13d per hour, but less than ]sd, an increase of ljd; where wages are 15d per hour and over, an increase of Id; thai the pit-sent bonus of 5s per week in addition to the scale of wages provided for be continued during the currency of the agree-

ment about to/be concluded. The scale was adopted throughout, with a. few minoi modifications. After a discussion on conditions ol work, the chairman intimated that he was not prepared to support material alterations. which would have the effect of substantially increasing the cost of operating the trainways, beyond the increase in wages, or would necessitate a further call upon the man-power ,of the city. With regard to Jhe claim that eight hours' work be provided for broken shifts within, twelve hours, after

which overtime should be paid, it _ waf agreesi that in ai least 50 per cent of the broken shifts eight hours shall be completed in twelve hours and the remaining 50 per cent in thirteen hour-, after which ordinary overtime should be paid. It was also agreed that the time in which employes should be continuously on duly without a break should be reduced from ten to nine and a-half hour.-. In the case of uight-sjiifi depot workers, it was agreed thai eight hours per shift should include half an hour for meal time, ft was decided to add a new clause providing that the tank and promotion of all employees engaged since the commencement of the war will be liable to adjustment when men serving with the Expeditionary Force return to resume work. A number of minor amendments and modifications were also agreed to. The agreement is to be made binding for two years.