THREAT OF STRIKE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23101, 28 July 1938, Page 13

THREAT OF STRIKE

COAL MINK WOHKEBS CONCERN IN AUSTRALIA PLAN FOR INTERVENTION NEW SOUTH WALES CABINET By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received July 'J7. 5..",0 p.m.) SVDXKY, July '->7 The Sun reports that the New South Wales (Government has decided to intervene to try to prevent a general strike in the coal industry. The Cabinet has authorised the Minister of Labour, Mr. A. .Mail", t<visit the southern and northern coalfields and investigate the complaints of the, men. Jle will report to the (iovcrnment whether mediatory action should lie taken.

The general president of the Miners' Federation, -Mr. ( . -Nelson, stated in Sydney recently that, if the coalowners were determined to resist, the miners' legitimate claims, a national crisis appeared inevitable. It was stated that the coalowners were determined not to concede the miners' demands, and did not believe the federation would call a Common-wealth-wide strike, if lor no other reason than its inability to finance it. The claims of the men include a !{()- hour week of live six-hour days, t'2 a week pensions for aged miners, holidays on full pay. and improved safety provisions in the mines. A six-hour day from hank to bank, it was pointed out on behalf of the owners, would mean an effective working day of IJ hours. At present the men work an cijzlithour day lroni bank to bank, which the employers claim is an effective working day of (>] hours. Most miners engaged on the face of the mine are paid contract rates, and those engaged elsewhere are on a dailv wage rate.

ruder the present system of an eightlionr day. lroia hank to hank, the miners' time commences when lie enters the ]iit mouth. and ends when lie leaves it. The working time also includes the period allowed for lunch and crih. The coal faces in some pits are a considerable distance from the pit mouth. On Saturdays. Sundays and holidays a miner, if on duty, works six hours, and is paid for eight hours.

In there was a !•"> months' stoppage in the mines of the northern district, and when work was resumed men on contract rates had their wages reduced by ]2{ per cent. Those on a daily rate suffered a reduction of (id a day. Last year, as the result of an agreement between the eoalowners and the miners, the contract workers had their rates increased by ]() per cent, and the daily waj;e ol the other employees was increased by 5 per cent. The contract workers were thus receiving payment a little below that which ruled before the 192i)-.'50 stoppage. The daily wage men were actually better off by Gel a dav.