GENERAL LABOURERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 9245, 12 January 1916, Page 6

GENERAL LABOURERS

AWARD SOUGHT POE HASTINGS, Napier and wanganui.

Air M. J. Reardon, secretary to the VViulnugi-ou Ueueral Labouieis' union, nas luea an application on behalf 01 uio union lor an industrial dispute to be heard by a Uoyncil ox Conciliation, tne dispute, to wnicn tae builders and coucracioiS of jNapier, Hastings, and Wanganui and tne local bodies of ibe above districts nave been named as partite, ie in til© nature ot a claim tor au award covering the areas within a ten mile radius of each of the towns mentioned. Xbe principal demands of tne union are for a 4tt-hour week, with overtime at the rate of time and a quarter for tho first two hours, time and a half thereafter up to 10 p.m., and double time between 10 P-m. and the ordinary time for commencing work next morning, if worked continuously. In ’’tunnel work,’ wnich is defined as “any underground excavation that ie over a chain in leogcn or that requires timbering overhead, the hours are not to exceed eight per shift from bank to bank, with half an hour for crib-time." It is also claimed that when workers are working in foul air or in wet places where they ’’have to stand in water over ’ the hoot-tops or water is dripping on them," that six hours shall KK>r.:l‘.;ia dJayVl wvorfc; and that sound gum boots shall be supplied by the employers at the request of the workers when the latter are working In water an inch in depth. The rates of wages asked are Is 5d an hour for builder’s labourers; for tunnel work. Is 6d an hour for tannelmene and timbermen. and all other underground workers; for quarry work, ils 6ci an hour for workers engaged In getting Out stone, roughly squared to measure ment, powdermen, hammer and drill men and pumpermen; all other workers engaged in or about a quarry, Is 5d an hour: for concrete work, pick and shovel work, sewer work, kerbing and channelling, laying and cleaning drains. Is lid per hour; asphalt and tar work. Is 5d per hour; work in “wet places," Is 6d per hour. . Wages are to be -paid weekly, and within 15 minutes of ceasing work on the regular pay day. Double time is to be paid for work done on Sunday, New Year's Day Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day. Christmas Day. or Boring Day, and on all other holidays time and a half. For youths the following minimum wages are claimed: —Up to 17 years, .£1 10s per week: up to 18 years, Jtl Ifis; 18 years and over, men’s wages. The proportion of youths is not to be more than one to every five men employed, and youths under 21 years of age are not permitted to be shot-firers. ■ Suburban work and countiy work are defined, tho latter as “work which makes it necessary for the worker to sleep away from home," and the former as "work performed outside a radius of one mile arid a half from the Post Office of the respective places, but which does not come within the definition of 'country work.”’ It is claimed that no piecework shall be allowed, and the usual "under-rale workers" and preference clauses are Included.