WATERSIDE LABOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20323, 2 August 1929, Page 14

WATERSIDE LABOUR.

ENGAGEMENT OF WORKERS.

NEW SYSTEM ON TRIAL.

ONE CALL INSTEAD OF TWO

A new system of ongaging labour on tho waterfront camo into operation in Auckland yesterday. Under the new watersido workers' award only ono call for labour will be made, fiom 7.45 a.m. until 11.45 a.m., instead of the two calls which were previously mado from 7.45 a.m. to 9.45 a.m." and from 1 p.m. to 2.45 p.m. This change will obviate tho necessity for men not engaged at tho first call waiting about the wharves all the morning in tho hope of being successful at tho afternoon call. Instead of the later call for labour to work ships in tho afternoon, a system of nomination of mon who may be required for vessels arriving in tho afternoon has been introduced. The scheme is ono of the most important clauses agreed upon by tho Conciliation Council. It has been given a trial in Wellington and is now being tried in Auckland. Dunedin, Port Chalmers and Timaru. Labour will be engaged from 7.45 a.m. to 10.45 a.m. except, on Saturdays, when tho hours will remain as previously, from 7.45 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. On tho ordinary days labour required for 1.30 p.m. or later may bo nominated from any time from 9 a.m. until the end of the call to attend the place of engagement between 1.30 p.m. to 3 p.m It is to bo tho foreman's duty to state the actual timo at which tho men are to attend and tho nomination is to bo either confirmed or cancelled within 15 minutes (tit the foreman's stated timo. If the nomination is confirmed, or work started, the men shall be paid a minimum of two hours at ordinary rates if they start bofore 5 p.m., or three hours at overtime rates from 6 p.m. If work is not started no payment is to bo mado. When tho nomination is cancelled tho men who havo been nominated are to havo preference when labour is required. Under the system now in vogue labour may be transferred after 1.30 p.m. for tho purpose of making up shortages in gangs, or for facilitating tho despatch of a ship that is finishing that night. Transfers will be permitted from one employer to another if necessary. If the employer intends to work overtime he is to notify the men actually working or nominated not later than 4 p.m., and on Saturdays at 11 a.m. This notification is to be a definite engage nient. In regard to special overtime conditions in Auckland, the men aro to be told to return after the meal hour either at 6 p.m. or at 1 p.m.. or are to bo told to work the meal hour and to finish. Non unionists will not be engaged before 8 a.m. In a statement regarding tho award mado by Mr. L. Glover, president of tho New Zealand Watcrsiders' Federation, and Mr. W. Bennett, chairman of the New Zealand Employers of Watcrsiders, yesterday, it is pointed out that tho Concilia tion Council came to agreement upon most matters in connection with the new award. Only three or four questions have been left to the Arbitration Court to decide Representatives of the New Zea land Employers' of Waterside Workers, and the New Zealand Watcrsiders Emplovers' Association and tho Auckland Waterside Workers' Union have been working in conjunction on tho nomination call. Except for certain alterations agreed upon to suit local conditions, the system here is the same as that being tried in tho other ports.