CASWORKS STOKERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 121, 23 May 1919, Page 4

CASWORKS STOKERS

FRESH DEMANDS PRESENTED.

CONFERENCE WITH CITY COUNCIL.

INCREASED WAGES GRANTED.

A special meeting of the City Council was held yesterday afternoon, fresh demands having been made by the gasworks stokers. There were - present*— The Mayor (Mr W. W. Snodgrass), Crs. J. A. Stringer, R. Watson, W. S. Hampson, J, W. Harris, T. Edwards, F. Plum, W. C. Harley. The City Engineer (Mr J. G, Littlejohn) and Mr S, Tyson (Inspector o£ Factories) were also present. The Mayor stated that the stokers presented demands las| week and it was then agreed that the, men should return to work pending the megting of the Council on Friday. In tHe meantime, however, fresh demands bad made by the stokers, and he ; considered it advisable, to call tbe Council. together to discuss them. The present demands, the Mayor stated,' meant Ss a week, against the old, rate of £4 10s. It was significant that there., was no reference in the new demands to sick pay. It had been the custom, of the Council for years past to pay sick pay. Some discussion having ensued, the stokers (except two who were on duty) were called in.

The Mayor said entirely new demands had been put in. In the ' new demands there was no reference to the | sick pay for two of the, stokers, Mr Randerson said it was understood that the sick pay would be paid. The Mayor said no decision was arrived at. , i Mr Randerson intimated that they ; . still expected this sick pay. The Mayor further said there was no -efeience to sick pay. at all in the nsw demands. . ■ Mr Rogers said the inept in. Nelson, were called on to do more work than stokers at any other works in the. Db, ■ minion, and were paid the lowest wages. They were quite willing to foregp the. sick pay, and take their own risk, but, they still demanded the sick pay for the two men, ' ■ The new demands were then consul-' .... ered. They were as follows (a) A week’s work -shall consist of* seven shifts; a, shift or working day. shall consist of 8 hours,, 30 minutes tp . be allowed each man per shift fop.n^ealf. (b) The number of. retorts to bedrawn and charged.,, during each shift, shall be governed by the demand and the, make cl gas. < , \ . (c) Tile quantity of coal, to be used'by each man during each week of 7- days shall not exceed 17 tons. 1 ’ ' (d) When the aforesaid quantity of j coal is . exceeded, then extra stokers shall be employed. . (e) All badly blocked pipes to be. atr tended.to by spare man. ' ’| . , Gas-making stopped. 1. Street lights to be put in and ‘out by lamplighter 2. Where gas making has to be stop- • ped through the holders being full stokers shall not be required to work | in the yard, except in case, of break- * down, wlien stokers shall render assistanco to repair the damage or defect if , required. /■ .y' 3 Sboileinu- Hands* Tr. -hortening' hands in the retort house work is to be found m the yard for those coming out of. the. retort house, if. possible. 4. Each stoner shall. receive 15s per shift of 8 hours 5. Holiday : Fourteen days on . full, pay every 12 months shall' be allowed to be taken as peg arrangement between; the stokers and the City Council- On , leaving the employment -holidays shall _ -f be allowed, at the,, rate of one day per month's service. Casual stokers, shall be allowed one day holiday .per month for each month' worked in the retort bouse. Relieving stoker, to be paid at/ the rate of 15b per day when employed in the retort house. , ~ 6. Payment of Wages: Wages shall • be paid fortnightly. , 7; Termination of Service; One "W?ek s .notice on either side, _ / ,K* • „ 8. Notice Board: A notice board spall be hung up in the retort house, to bear a|L not.es of alterations in mode 01 .-k -at 1 as sire of- charges-* vopy of agreement snail be noted on the board* and finned by. the pers^hay-. , ing authority to place such nOtaoes »“ _ the board 1 - - form of ag’-iement, .12 months. Clause (b) was altered to read: That the number of retorts to be drawn Mid Charged during each sjuft_ shall b© go* yemea by. the engineer in .cqarge of the works. , Clause 1 under the Heading Gasn.aking Stoppcx” was deleted' the men t r -rvemg th i ttfnJ to the street bghte ■ r rovided the Cohmil erect a n©tf bathho* ie and Install another bath. The Council agreed to do this, & As to the w*ge., it wae stated that the rates paid in three North 61an$ r town? from v/hici information badtpeep obiamed were as foltows 15s 3d per shift- lor leading stokewu ■ ISs lid second hands; RalmeiJiton , North 14s, per shift. 17sJot Sunday shift; Wanganui, Ufe lOd per shift, increase- of 9d per shift being asked tot. The 15s a shift was agreed' to/ ■' , It was agreed that clause 5, ■ .ttoilf. da vs,” reading on leaving the-employ - meat.-shall be r.flowed-at. one day per month’s service, ahottlO. be altered to make It eleai' that ~ 1 applied only U a. broken period <£' than twelve months; that-* Jo that if a stoker had* had - holiday during tbe prdviou* twelW months and left his employment in tm next year, aftpr, say, work he would receive three days. pay. in lieu of holidays due. ~h . Clause 8 was delated, and it agreed that a copy of" the ag-eement be posted at the Works. The agreement will-be ratified at the meeting of the Council this evening.