HOURS AND WAGES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7979, 9 December 1911, Page 7

HOURS AND WAGES

LABOURERS’ DEMANDS DISPUTE CONCERNING THE BUILDING TRADE. With tho object of securing if possible a settlement of tho Wellington building trades labourers’ dispute, a Council ot Conciliation sat yesterday. Mr P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, employers were represented by Messrs A. Campbell, A. M. Wilson, and W. H. Bennett, ami the workers by Messrs G. Mellon, F. J! Lyons and E. Kennedy. Mr IV. A. W. Grenfell appeared as agent for the employers, and Mr W. C. Noot in a similar capacity for the union. The union cited some 425 builders and contractors carrying on business in and around Wellington. Its claims, in brief, wero for a 44-hour week; a minimum wago of Is 3d per hour, with la 4d for men employed on scaffolding, and Is 6d for those iu wot places; overtime at tho rate of llmo and a half, with double time on holidays; weekly payment of wages, in cash on tho job; travelling allowance for suburban work; provision for under-rato workers; preference to unionists. , By agreement between tho parties 87 of tho firms or persons cited were struck out of tho list. EXEMPTIONS. Applications for exemption were made on behalf of tho Gas, Company and the Harbour Board by Messrs Ferguson and Marclibanks respectively. After discussion the exemptions were granted in accordance with the ruling of the Arbitration Court in* tho painters dispute on Wednesday; that was, on condition that the companies pay the award rate of wages and overtime for time worked in excess of tho honrs fixed by the aw ar<l. Mr Grenfell applied to .have the Vt ollimrton Hospital and Charitable, Aid Boairt struck off the list of parties on tho ground that it is a Government dopaitI ltlC ‘'’l'will not do that." said the Commissioner. "You go to the court. Tho appnea[lion is refused." , , . lf An application for exemption on of the Neuchatel Asphalt Company was postponed for consideration m commit. Tho exemptions having been disposed of for tho time being tho council proceeded to discuss tho union's claims. THE DEMANDS. First, however, Mr Campbell objected to having, to go ‘°?r? list of new conditions. He said the emJ plovers would not. consider them, for tnej would upset practically the whole of the work. The union was teafiy asking an , entirely new award. As far as he kne , tho old award had worked very jatihfac- , torily. and tho employers fJ?~. i where they wore beloro proceeding fu th lt r ’was agreed to take the ol<l as tho basis of negotiations, and the clauses of tho claim wero taken seriatim. Mr Noot said that really very te« al terations \vere asked for. It sought a, reduction In hours from 4o to 44 iteekDt. Mr Grenfell intimated that the omj) lo .y ora could not agree to any reduction in 11 Dealing with wages Mr Noot said that the union was fully justified in asking an increase of lid per hour all round, with special provision for payment ol Is 6d per hour for men in«- In wet places. Tho . average wage paid to members of tho union worked out at 36s 9d per week, which was absolutely inadequate for any man to live contended that tho wages paid tho labourers boro a reasonable proportion to those of tho skilled wo!* 6 ”-- Any increase as asked for would lead to a demand for increase in the ektlled branches. , .. »• After some discussion tho council disagreed on tho point. , , . . Tho claim as to overtime led to further debate, the employers declaring that they wonld stand by tho provision in tho ol(l award for time and a quarter, with time and a half on holidays. It was finally agreed to adopt tho overtime provisions of the carpenters' award. These, gave time and a quarter for the first .two hours' overtime, time and a half from thence to 10 o'clock p.m , and; double rirao for all time worked after- that.. Doable time for holidays was also agreed Ul> Tho employers refused to recognise “wet work ' or casual work, contending that tho latter definition applied to all the work done. ~ , , , No agreement at first could ho reached in regard to the prolcrenco clause, but after discussion iu private the employers accepted tho clause which is embodied in the carpenters' award. . .... After a long sitting in private it was announced by the Commissioner that agreement had been reached on all the main points save wages and suburban! work, which tho employers' representatives did not fed inclined to concede. Howover, they wero not inclined lo close down absolutely without consulting their association. and with a -view to allowing this to bo done ho thought it would bo advisable that farther consideration of the two clauses by tho council should he adjourned. . .. , , The members of tho council agreed to an adjournment, until Wednesday week, tho 20th instant, at an hour lo be fixed by tho Commissioner.