Improved Agreement for Shearers and Shed Hands

Maoriland Worker, Volume 10, Issue 447, 1 October 1919, Page 8

Improved Agreement for Shearers and Shed Hands

ANOTHER MILESTONE PASSED

The new agreement wrung from th_ wool kings by the Workers' Union at an immense cost of time and money, ■while it shows that the workers never had to fight so hard not merely to irdprove their position, but to maintain what they have won, represents in many respects an advance on any agreement of the past. While the deplorable economic system lasts, no effort of any tmion can do more than what the S'.Z.W.U. has done. What has been , actually achieved by the union is set out here below, as information for members, and an incentive to further action, more united, more enthusiastic, aud having as its end and aim tho right of the tmion to a greater say in the fixing of wages and conditions. Although compelled t£ withdraw some of our claims, the union will keep These well in sight, and enforce them when strong enough. WHAT HAS BE EX DOSE. On September 17 the representatives of the N.Z.W.U. entered into a -.omplete agreement on behalf of shearers and shed hands. While the whole of our demands were not won, we maintain that your union succeeded in forcing the employers to concede a fiat rate of 30/- a hundred for shearers. Shed hands wages also have been improved. The pre-war weekly rates of 27/6 and 30/- have been increased to £3/5/-. and £3/10/----a week. The hourly rate of 1/- and 1/1 is increased to 1/10 and 2/- an hour. Since 1010, youths and men employed under the pretence that they were engaged by the year, have been unprotected and disgracefully imposed upon. As a result of the Union's persistent agitation the position i.. changed. Youths are no.f- provided for, and must be paid not less than £2/10/- a week, or 1/6 an hour, and the employers who took advantage of the clause in previous agreements governing bogus yearly hands will be compelled now to pay the adult minimum rates mentioned above. Tn tb» ease of shearers il should be "SU-gpl (fay, gets an increase that provides his annual subscription to ihe union. , ■ The increased gain for shed hands over pre-war rates is £2 a week, and tjie hourly rate has been' increased by

New Zealand Workers' Union Justifies ils Existence

lid. an hour for presserS and woolrollers, and lOd. an hour for other | shed hands, which means that, on a 1 48-hour week, the hourly rate has been improved by £2/4/- a week. Any worker who accepts these rates and refuses to pay his union contribution must be stingy in quite a disgusting degree if he takes the increase and objects to help his mates to support the action which secured them. These results, together with a clause in the agreement providing a medicine chest as an adjunct to all sheds, are worth while in all the circumstances, and justify hope for the future. All of you should join the New Zealand Workers' Union this year. The world over the non-union-ist is despised, alike by employer and fellow-worker. He is a creature who takes the increase won by the union-_ ist. who nays for it. A drone in the' hive of industry, it would be gross flattery to call him a man. His children will not bless him as they follow in his footsteps and suffer for his want 01 manhood, and his unjustifiable individualism in refusing lo combine with his fellow-workers. The New Zealand Workers' Union was brought into being four years ago, with the object of organising into One Big Union all the workers on farms and stations in the Dominion. At the moment of its formation it had no funds, and taking over the liabilities of the unions which"' amalgamated with it, h found itself in deb! to the extent of over £1000. Despite your neglect of your interests shown by your refusal to become a member, the union, supported hy the mon who toil beside you has won through and become a pov.c_r in tho land equal in strength and influence io any Labor union cf the Dominion. It hr.s carried out a campaign which to-day has been the means of winning conditions which will more than compare with the conditions obtaining in the most strongly organised industries of the Dominion. WHAT WE WANT. " runt!'wovhers. Will you help in getting them. If so, join NOW. Unite. Unity is sirci.gi.h. You have nothing to lose and a world io gain. ('. (__.AYNDLI.It. Ceil. Sec. ARTiiUIt COOK, President. a(ior„ of the. life of the present Parliament which enabled M.P.'s to rifle the public p.ir.e of tw6 year..' salaries and perquisites. These 'instance's will do Cor New Zealand. Another for Great Britain—a -Jrand Example of capitalist tineon--titutic-ialisni—will suffice. Neither the British Government r.or Parliament lias declared war on Russia. Yot British armies have invaded Russia under the administration of 31 r. Churchill, scores of million of money have been spent, and hundreds of BritUh soldiers have lost their lives ir_. this adventure. So clearly unconstitutional are the present proceedings in Russia tint;, were the British people not almost hopelessly degraded by two centuries ol capitalist exploitation the would imp-ach tiie Government and convict Ca.irelsili of murder. The above demonstrates that the Cap-i UalUt. will shoot, rob, break the law," glorify force, misappropriate the public tin.ds, and massacre on a larg e scale in their quest for profit and power, it i.i these ruffians who invite thfe workers to confine their action to theorising and palaver! When wo know that there is no extremity of violence to which the capitalists will not go in their mar.iia for profit-, that tbey will sweat whole populations, herd their wctJ.cts into stinking slums, poison 1 heir mind with, press I'd til, ore*'! jails for their opponents, shoot workers ou strike, glut themselves while others starve, starve women and children in millions by a blockade, enslave, nations, and devastate a world withffi e and sword in imperialist wars, it is very much like Satan rebuking sin to hear them shouting "CJ neons tit ulionalisin !'•• at workers who are out on strike. IVir brazem hypocrisy they stand alone. Notwithstanding all fhe honest anc dis-.-me.st outcry against Direct Actioi this is being forced upon the worker, to-day as it was forced upon the mci who wen for this generation, such smal liberties as remain lo it. The nneon stitutioual of to-day will be the con -titiuional of to-morrow. History f philosophy te.iel.injj by examples. _• seem, v, bo wasted on many people.