FIRE BRIGADESMEN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 259, 30 September 1936, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADESMEN.

INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENT. MORE WAGES AND HOLIDAYS. Conciliation proceedings were held in Palmerston North, yesterday, between the Wellington Fire Brigade Employees’ Industrial Union of Workers and the Palmerston North Fire Board, an agreement being arrived at. The new arrangement provides for increases in the rate of pay- and an extra fortnight's leave for the firemen. The terms of the settlement are regarded by the parties as important, as they may be taken as a basis for argument in industrial disputes affecting fire brigades in other provincial centres. An award is to be made on the conditions agreed on and it will operate for 12 months from October 2. Assessors for the applicant union were Messrs W. J. McSweeney, C. H. White (Palmerston North), J. Dale (Central Fire Station, Wellington) and H. Hanton, secretary of the union (advocate). Messrs A. E. Mansford, C. V. Day (Palmerston North), D. S. N. McCartney (Wellington) and W. J. Mountjoy, secretary of the Wellington Employers’ Association (advocate) represented the Fire Board. The following is a summary of the principal provisions of the agreement, which is to be presented to the Arbitration Court for confirmation as an award: — Wages.—Probationer firemen, £3 5s per week: third-class firemen, £3 7s 6d; second-class firemen, £3 19s 6d; first-class firemen, £4 9s 6d; senior firemen, £4 10s; fireman mechanic, £4 12s 6d. Watch-room attendants shall be paid not less than 15s per week as from the commencement of service, with half-yearly increases ,of 5s per week until £2 10s per week is reached. Allowances. —Married men who are not provided with living quarters shall be granted an allowance of £1 per week. In stations wdiere there is no mess, single men shall be paid 5s per week extra. Where a man is employed on relieving duty and has to secure a meal outside the station at which he is employed, lie shall be paid the sum of Is 6d per meal in each case. Leave. —Each worker shall be allowed ordinary leave of absence without deduction of pay for 24 hours from 9 a.m. every fifth day, provided that in cases where an emergency, i.e., fire duty or sickness, prevents such leave being given, such leave shall subsequently be made up to the worker. Each worker on completion of six months’ continuous service shall be granted 14 consecutive days’ holiday (inclusive of Sundays) on full pay. Daily routine. —Daily routine is to be the same as at present. With the exception of urgent work, such as repairs to engines and work connected with fire duties, all routine work is to finish at 1 p.m. Saturday routine will ceaee at noon.

Sickness. —Whenever a member by sickness is rendered unfit for duty, lie shall be paid full pay during the first 14 days, and at its expiration the board shall review each case on its merits, with a view to extending such pav for a further period. The award is to be for a term of 12 months from October 2.