CASE FOR EMPLOYERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17428, 25 March 1920, Page 4

CASE FOR EMPLOYERS.

QUESTION OF ARBITRATION.

HISTORY OF THE DISPUTE.

OFFER BY COMPANIES.

! The following statement regarding the strike at Waihi has been supplied for publication by Mr. Charles Rhodes, president of the Gold Mine-owners Association, and local director of the Waihi Gold Mining Company, Ltd.:— * " Whilst originating in the demands of the two unions now on strike, viz: The Ohinemuri branch of the Amalgamated Engineers and the Ohinemuri Mines and Batteries Union, for increased rates ot pay and other concessions, the immediate cause of the present strike was the refusal of both unions to submit the matters in dispute to the Arbitration Court. "It is obvious that there will always be room for genuine differences of opinion between employers and employees on the questions of how far the men are entitled to be compensated for the increased cost of living, and of what is a reasonable rate of remuneration for overtime and what should be the hours of work. The parties, after a three-days' conference, having failed to agree on these matters, the representatives of the gold mining companies suggested that the only way, out was to obtain a ruling from the' Court. The representatives of the union positively refused to adopt this course, and the representatives of the companies having made all the concessions which they, as trnstees for their respective companies, felt justified in making, and the unions refusing to accept these offers, a deadlock resulted.

Annual Revision of Wages. "That the representatives of the companies endeavoured to meet the men in a sympathetic and conciliatory spirit is shown by the offers made, details of which are as follows :— • " Since 1912 a schedule of wages rates to the different classes of workers of the Miners' Union has, once each year,'been the subject of revision during a round-the* table conference between the union and the companies. Early last month the annual conference took place, and the companies offered to increase all the wages rates by Is 9d a day,, or 16£ per cent, on the minimum rate "agreed upon about twelve months previously. This made the new minimum rate 12s 3d a day. In the past the men have had practically unbroken time six days a week, though only five hours were worked on Saturdays for a full day's pay. Comparison of this rate and Waihi conditions with 12s Bd, the Court's minimum rate for casual workers elsewhere, for each eight full hours' work, is in favour of the Waihi worker. " The miners working underground were mostly on contract earning an average of, say, 17s 6d a day. Further .concessions made by the companies were:To reduce the hours of work for battery men on shift from 48 hours a week to 44 hours, equal to Is a day increase of pay. face labourers on day shifts were already working only 45 hours a week, but without allowance for cribtime. Other minor concessions were also made. "On the refusal of the representatives of the union to accept the above terms, the employers announced their intention to pay the rates offered, and put the other concessions in force as from Febru- j ary 8, and this was done.

Offer to the Engineers. " To engineers the . companies offered to increase the 1919 rate for first-grade engineers from Is 7*d an hour (basic wage) plus 2*d (war bonus), total Is lOd an hour to a flat rate of 2s an hour the highest general rate at that time being paid to engineers in the Dominion. Overtime, as in the case of the Miners' Union, to be paid on the -whole rate, and not merely on the basic wage as formerly

rates • for ; second-grade '■ _enentesm ': to .bo'' increased in proportion. -""Other minor concessions were; also made; l ; : Tha representatives of -gj the- -■• employers also' agreed that;if i-thei?award]of' the i Court ■in the then pending dispute of»the 'Auckland; Engineers proved to ,be in; excess; of 2s an ' hour the men would •- receive <. the Court's rate, payment X to "be -retrospective to' February 8. } -Meanwhile /the offer made' by the companies was also to take effect as from February &' The attitude of the companies has alt along been a willingness, to submit their differences .of opinion to' arbitration. It is of course notorious . that .neither ,' side ought to be plaintiff, judge and jury too, but-it would seem'as if the unions want to be' in that position. ■ Obviously the strike will be costly to both sides, and injurious to th* whole community of Waihi, but it appears to the companies, from the history of the coal mines dispute, that concessions, no matter how liberal, will not buy peace and as. the unions will not consent to arbitration there seems no other course open to the companies at present than to accept tile position forced uport\them of suspension of all operations in their mines, and to await develop-, ments."