GASWORKS AWARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23067, 18 June 1938, Page 20

GASWORKS AWARD

.CONDITIONS FOR DOMINION !; ' MEMORANDUM BY COURT A Dominion award has been issued , by th«i ; Court of Arbitration for all .employees of gasworks* of more than 12.000,000 'cubic feet output who are not engaged in employment already substantially! covered by existing awards and industrial agreements. Comment is made by, the president, Mr. Justice O'Regan,' in a memorandum attached to the award that the nature of the claims iiiade the dispute more than usually < difficult, and that the employers' assessor, Mr. W. Cecil Prime, thought ihab the alternative wage rata asked for in some cases by the employers should be granted and that the rates otherwise decided upon were rather higher than was warranted. For yardmen and drivers the weekly hours aro fixed at 44; for complaints men, for whom two sets of daily hours are provided, gatekeepers and watchmen, a week of not more than 44 hours* and a fortnight of not more than 84 are provided,'and for all other workers the hours are to bo 40 a week. Wages; have involved a very wide classification. For shift Avorkers engaged in the manufacture of gas the ' rate for each shift ranges from £1 0s lOd for'ammonia plant and tar plant operators to £1 4s for leading operators of contiguous vertical retorts. For day workers an hourly rate has been fixed and varies from 2s 4d for general coal workers to 2s 9d for tinsmiths, sheetmetal workers, dry motor repairers, main laying gangers, retort setters_ and patchers.; motor mechanics, electricians, blacksmiths and loco-drivers. Watchmen ami gatemen at Auckland have been awarded £4 4s a week. Special: additional payment i 3 provided for dirty work, wet places, hot places, and for working at heights. For is from £1 os a week for the first six months at 16 to 17 years of age to £4 for the at .20.-to 21 years of ago, after "which adult rates are to operate. The award is to come into force as from Monday for year.