WATERSIDE LABOUR

Northern Advocate, 27 October 1932, Page 8

WATERSIDE LABOUR

THE MEW CONDITIONS.

BALLOT IN PROGRESS,

(Special to “Northern Advocate.’’)

AUCKLAND, Wednesday

A ballot on the proposals submitted by the shipping companies for a new agreement is being completed by members of the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union today. Similar ballots are to be taken in other ports within the next few days. The result of the Dominion-wide ballot, which will be announced from Wellington, will not be known until next month.

The proposals, it is stated, are considerably more attractive than those submitted throe months ago. Since August IS the men have been working under the conditions of the old award, but at the new rates of pay, “under protest.” It is understood that if the new proposals are accepted by the men the new rates of pay, namely -2/ an hour, will be retrospective.

Clause 2 in the schedule which the watersiders are being asked to accept deals with the rates of pay. It reads: “The rate of wages at all ports and for all classes of work shall be 2/ per hour ordinary time.

“1. Men employed aboard lighters or barges in connection with the handling of frozen produce to be paid 3d per hour over the general cargo rate. “2. Mon employed handling general cargo on board lighters or barges to be paid 2d an hour over the general cargo rate. “The rates of overtime at all ports, except where otherwise provided, shall be time and a half (ordinary overtime) until 1.0 p.m., and double time (special overtime) for any time worked between .11 p.m. and 7 a.m.”

Under the 192!) award the rates of nay were 2/4, less 10 per cent. In the original new proposals' the men were asked to accept 1/11 per hour.