GAS EMPLOYEES' WAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17497, 15 June 1920, Page 6

GAS EMPLOYEES' WAGES

DEMAND FOR AN INCREASE.

t OFFER ,C BY THE COMPANY.

MEN TAKING; SECRET BALLOT. 'A secret ballot of members of the Auckland Gas Employees' Union on the question .of accepting or rejecting the offer of the employers, in respect to the union's demands for increased > 'wages, is now in progress, and will be completed .this even'ing at. five o'clock. The matter has arisen in connection • with an agreement, made lust January, -under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act. This agreement is valid until June, 1921. When, it was coneluded i the , employers agreed jto all the men's demands, but now the men ask for an. increase of 12s a week" The directors offered 12s a week increase to the outaide staff, who are subject to loss of pay through adverse " .weather conditions, and 8;; a week to the inside staff. % This offer was rejected at a special meeting attended , by about 220, members of -the- union, and the engineer and manager of the company, Mr. J. . Lowe, was advised of the decision and informed that a ballot would be token to, confirm or reject the resolution, r,s about 80 men were unable to be present at the meeting owing to their being on duty. The following schedule shows the current wages, the > union's claims,: and the company's' offer j—Maintenance, per week, hi 15s, v* 7s, £4 3s : labourers (yard), per hour, Is 7d, -• Is 10di* Is 9d; labourers (street),.'' per hour, Is 7d,-Is Wd, ls'iOdj service layers, per hour, Is BJd. Is Hid, Is HJdj gangers, per hour. Is 9d, 2s, 2s ; machine men, per shift, 16s 6d, 17s 6d, 168 lOd ; stokers, per'shift, 15a, 17s, 16s 4d; water gas operators, per shift, 15s, 17s, 16s 4d; fire cleaners, per shift, 14s 6d. 16s 6d, 15s lOd » boiler firemen, per shift, 14s, 16s, 15s 4d; learners in maintenance department, per week, £3 ss, £3 17s, £3 13s.