BRICKLAYERS’ DISPUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8737, 20 May 1914, Page 9

BRICKLAYERS’ DISPUTE

DEMANDS OF THE MEN INCREASED WAGES AND BETTER CONDITIONS. Mr P. Hally (Conciliation Commissioner) presided over a meeting of the Conciliation Council held yesterday in connection with the bricklayers’ dispute. Messrs A. McMahon, V\ • Gibson, and W. Hanton were assessors for the men, and Messrs W. Ferguson- W. H. Bennett, and A. Wilson for the employers concerned. Mr H. G. Greasier appeared as agent for the men, Mr W. A. Grenfell as agent for the employers, Mi H. C. Crowe for the Wellington Meat Export Co., Mr W. Lodder for the Gear Meat Co., and Mr W. Dougall for the Wellington Gas Co.

Mr Lodder asked that time and a half be the maximum overtime rate as far as repair work executed by thctwo bricklayers employed by his company ivas concerned. Mr Dougall asked for exemption on behalf of , the Wellington Gas Co., both for the city and Miramar works. Mr Bennett, speaking for the Builders’ Federation, objected strongly to a Dominion award. Mr Hanton said that the men were endeavouring to arrive at a common basis in the four centres for a Dominion award. The court would be asked to make the award and the Builders’ Federation could voice its objections tben.

The following are the more important demands of the men; — Hours .—The week’s work shall consist of 44 hours, viz., five days of eight hours each and from 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday. One hour shall be allowed for dinner, from 12 noon> to 1 p.m., from August Ist to April 30th. and from 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on each day except Saturday, one half-hour to be allotted for dinner, from May Ist to July 31st. Wages.—'All journeymen bricklayers shall receive not less than Is 9d per hour. All bricklayers engaged in the following class of work shall be paid time and a quarter". All boilers, flues, brick kilns, retorts, furnaces, all hot and dirty work, towers, church steeples, chimney stacks over 30ft in height (but not including the erection of any dwellinghouse chimney) wet work, sewers, tunnels, work done in two inches or more of water or where water is dripping on the worker. On all wet work the employer shall provide gum boots and oil-skins if requested. All repairs to bakers’ ovens clone during ordinary working hours shall he paid double time, including retorts and furnaces.

Overtime. —All overtime shall ho paid for at the rate of timo and) a quarter for the first two hours, after the first two hours timo and a half up to lO’-p.m. between 10 p.m. and S a.m. double time. Time" and a half shall' he paid between noon and 5 p.m. on Saturdays, after 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday double time. Double time shall be paid on the following recognised holidays:—New Year’s Hay, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Birthday of Reigning Sovereign, Christmas Hay. Boxing Day. Preference was asked for, increased wages were demanded for apprentices, and a reduction in the radius for suburban work from ton miles to eight miles w r as cl airbed. In i their counter-proposals, the employers offered tho men a wage of Is 7d per hour for a 44-hour week. The counter proposals are practically tho same as the' conditions in the Wellington carpenters’ award. The Conciliation Council adjourned without coming to a recommendation.