WATERSIDE WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21345, 21 November 1932, Page 10

WATERSIDE WORK

NEW' AGREEMENT MADE

BASIC RATE 2/- AN HOUR

RETROSPECTIVE OPERATION

CONDITIONS IN AUCKLAND

The indus(rial dispute which has been an unsettling factor on the New Zealand waterfront for over a year, was settled on Saturday, when an agreement was signed by representatives of the employers of waterfront labour and the unions. The /basic rate of pay is to be 2s an hour, with extra rates for special cargoes. The agreement is to come into operation on November 24, but the new rates of pay are to be retrospective to August 19, since when the employees have been accepting Is lid an hour under

protest. y The last award operating between the parties expired on October 24, 1931, and thereafter there were extended negotiations in an endeavour to reach a new agreement. Terms offered by the employers were submitted to a secret ballot of the employees throughout the ISominion and were rejected by a six to one majority. A sequel was the breakdown of further negotiations in conciliation council proceedings leading to the cancellation of the award under the amendment to the Arbitration Act made last session. The award expired on August 18 and next day the employers brought into operation the new pay schedule, which was accepted by the men under protest.

Efforts were continued by both sides to reach an agreement and last month rew terms offered by the employers were submitted to secret ballots. Although no announcement of tho result has been made, the fact that an agreement has been signed indicates that the ballot was in favour of acceptance.

Sates of Overtime After providing for the basic rate of 2s an hour the agreement says that the rates of overtime at all ports, except where otherwise provided, shall be time and a-half (ordinary overtime) until 10 p.m., and double time (special overtime) for any time worked between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.* The rate of pay under the old award was 2s 4d an hour, but the general order of the Arbitration Court reducing the rate by 10 per cent became operative as from June 16, 1931. The rates of pay provided for special cargoes vary little from those under the old award, although those for hot coal and hot cement are lower. Time and three-quarters is to be paid for/general cargo work done between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday. This is the same rate as in the old award. Minor alterations have been made in the clauses 'dealing with the ordering down and ordering back of men. Holidays have been divided into two classes. All work done on Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday i s to be paid for at the rate of special overtime, and work done on other, holidays at the ordinary overtime rate between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.. and special overtime rate for any work done before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Labour at Auckland A difficulty that has been experienced at Auckland concerning the monthly stopwork meeting has been cleared up in the new agreement. Hitherto the meeting has been held on the first Tuesday of the month, j which is generally a busy day at Auckland, ag on that day there is often a mail boat arriving or departing. It is now provided that the meeting shall be held on the first Wednesday of the month, subject to the right of the local disputes committee to vary the day from time to time as may be found necessary. Increases have been made in the weight of cargo to be carried in slings. Under the old award not more than 20cwt. of frozen meat could be placed in one sling at a time,'' but now 22|cwt. will be permissible. The number of boxes of butter to a tray has been increased from 40 to 45.

There is a special clause relating to the engagement of labour at Auckland. This reads:—"Mondays to Fridays (both inclusive), 7.45 a.m. to 10.30 p.m.; on Saturdays, 7.45 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. The nomination call shall continue as provided by the award dated October 1, 1929, with the following amendments, viz., that nominations shall be' permitted for 1 p.m. and/or for vessels in port which have not commenced work owing to wet or windy weather."

DECISION AT WELLINGTON

RESUMING LOADING TO-DAY

[by TELEGRAPH—OWN correspondent] "WELLINGTON, Sunday

Wellington waterside workers have detided to resume loading meat on the Port Dunedin to-morrow.