Fire Brigadesmen Get Pay Increases

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 231, 30 September 1936, Page 6

Fire Brigadesmen Get Pay Increases

ALSO ADDITIONAL HOLIDAYS. AGREEMENT REACHED IN CONCILIATION. Increases in the rate of pay and an extra fortnight’s leave for firemen were granted in an agreement which was reached yesterday in conciliation proceedings held in Palmerston North between the Wellington Fire Brigade Employees’ Industrial Union of Workers and tho Palmerston North Tire Board. Considerable interest attaches to the settlement, as the terms are likely to he treated as a basis for disputes affecting fire brigade conditions in provincial centres. Assessors for the applicant union wero Messrs W. J. McWwecney, C. H. White, of Palmerston North, J. Dale, Central Fire Station, Wellington, and H. Hanton, secretary of the union (advocate). Messrs A. E. Hansford, C. V. Day, Palmerston North, D. S. M. McCartney, Wellington, W. J. Mountjoy, secretary of tho Wellington Employers’ Association (advocate) represented the Fire Board.

Tho following is a summary of the principal porvisions of the agreement, which is to bo presented to the Arbitration Court for confirmation as an award:—•

Wages; Probationer firemen, £3 os per week; third-class firemen, £3 7s Gd; second-class firemen, £3 I9s Gd; firstclass firemen, £4 9s Gd; senior firemen, £4 10s; fireman mechanic, £4 12s Gd. Watch-room attendants shall bo paid not less than 15s per week as from commencement of service, with halfyearly 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 where thero is no mess, single men shall bo paid 5s per week extra. Where a man is employed on relieving duty and has to get a meal outside of the station at which ho is employed, he shall bo paid tho sum of Is Gd per meal in each case. Leave: Each worker shall bo allowed ordinary leave of absence without deduction of pay for 24 hours from 9 a.m. every fifth day, provided that in cases where in emergency, i.e., fire duty or sickness prevents such leave being given, such leave shall subsequently bo 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 bo tho 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 cease at noon.

Sickness: Whenever a member by sickness is rendered unfit for duty, he shall bo paid full pay during the first 14 days, and at its expiration the board shall review each case on its mems, with a view to extending such pay for a further period.

Tho award is to bo for a term of 12 months from October 2.