THE WAIHI STRIKE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10546, 24 March 1920, Page 5

THE WAIHI STRIKE

THE PRESENT POSITION WILL DISPUTE AFFECT THE COAL UNIONS? The decision of the miners at tho Waihi Gold Mining to cease work may have a far-reaching effect. A dispute arose between the engineers employed at tho mines in the hrst instance and as a settlement was not arrived at with the owners tho engineers did not continue to woru. ii was freely -stated that the engineers refused to have their dispute deait with by the Arbitration Court, arid a deadlock resulted. In f'etruary last the agreement between the miners' union and the' gold-miiiing companies expired, and proposals wore submitted to the mine-owners. A conference was arranged and the owners made an offer to the union which the men unanimously rejected, and tho men ceased work yesterday. Subsequently Mr J. Arbuckle (secretary of the federation) approached the Prima -Minister, and Mr .Vlaseey said he would do what he could to arrange a further conference. CONFERENCE REFUSED. In reply to a proposal that a second conference be held, the mine-owners forwarded the following letter to tho Ohinomuri Mines und - Batteriea Union:— " ' "In reply to yours of March 11th, in which you suggest a further conlerence between the mining companies and your union, whilst always willing to give the representatives of your union an opportunity of discussing any matter in, dispute with us, as the parties only recently concluded a three days conference, at which all matters in dispute were exhaustively considered, and as you do not mention any new points for discussion, we fail to see chat «ood purpose could bo served, by a further conference. As explained at the recent conference, the very substantial increases in pay and other circessions granted ty the employers represented the limit which they felt justified in offering, and as regards the matter of overtime rates and other working conditions, we think these are matters for an Arbitration Court rut ing In our opinion, the parties havmf failed to agree, the proper course for the union is to file a dispute with the Arbitration Court. In tho meantime the companies are quite F«Pa re< J \o continue paying the rates offered at the recent conference and generally to abide by the conditions ot that offer. We cannot agree with your statement that there » «reat d«* tlrfw the terms the men are at pr«M n *\ o * fna tinder/but <m the contrary. have .refson to believe that the majority of the men are well satisfied with the concessions made by the companies at the recent conference. .Of <»«»»..» there are anv new points your union desires to bring forward we shall b» .pleased to consider them. SUGGESTED TRANSFER OF MINERS.

Mr Arbuckle 'stated yesterday that the miners were only asking for a living wage, and until such was granted by tho mining companies tho -men would not return to work added: "So far as the- Waihi dispute is concerned, it is not only the gold miners who are' effected, because they are aftliated with the coal minors, and the latter will certainly not allow the Waihi gold companies to literally starve their employees—and ithat is what the present offer as regards wages means; It is* to be hoped that the Government will not allow the wealthy companies, such as the Waihi, to -decline to pay wages which would be on a level .with those earned by general labourers, engaged in surface work. Personally, I would favour a course of action whereby the federation would assist the wives and children of tbe < gold minora to remove to the coal mining nmas, where the men would be able to earn money more in keeping with the cost of living." THE MINERS' DEMANDS.

In placing proposals before the mine-owners tor a new agreement, the union asks that the hours, whicn vary hom-46 to 4a per weelt, bo reduced to 44 for all workers, except for men who are employed in hot, wet, or gassy places, who shall-work *ix hours por shift and five Bhifta per week, in respect to wages, the following demands were made: Minimum wages for surface and underground workers: Surface, 17s, underground 17s 6d per shift. (Present rates 9a 6d to lis 3d); bracemen and ohambermen, -21 s 8d (9s 3d and 9a 6d); pitmen, 23s 4d, toolsharpeners,' 21s (9s 6d); timbexmen on surface or underground, 19s (10s); stampermen, 17s 6d (9s 9d); amalgamator, 18s (10s); stone-breakers, 18s 8d (9s 3d. and 9s 9d); men attending sand or settlers, 17s 6d (9s 6d) ; concentrate men, 18s 6d (9s 6d and 10s 6d); foundry labourers, 18a (9s 9d); blacksmiths' strikers, 14s, 15s 9d, 17s Sd, according to ago (9s 3d); greasers and sluicera, 17s 6d (9s 6d); tube mill hands, 17s 6d (9s 3d and 9s 6d) working at settlers or V boxes, 17s 6d (9s 6d); mine pipemen, 19a lOd; truck repairers, 21s; shaft sinkers and repairers, 23s 4d. The ' existing wages, which are given in parentheses in each case, carry a war bonus of Is 3d per day . The wages demanded for youths are : Tinder 17 years," 12s 3d per shift (4s): 17 to 18, 14s (ss): 18 to 19, 15s 9d (6s); 19 to 20, 17s 6d (7s). The union also asks for absolute preference 'to members. 2s 6d por hour "dirt money," and 7s 6d per hour for all salvage work. Tt demands that overtime shall be rraid for at the rate of time and a-half for th« first two hours, and thereafter double time, all work dono on Sundays and close holidays to be paid for at the rate of double time.

THE COMPANIES' PROPOSALS. The offer made by the . companies, representing an increase of Is 9d on the rates in the old agreement, is as follows; . 'To agree to a forty-four hour week for men working shifts in batteries, provided that in respect to the three four-hour 4 shifts to i>c worked each week, a man to bo relieved must carry on for a further four hours without receiving overtime rates if his mate fails to turn up for work. This arrangement to start on Monday. Fobru a-ry I6th. at.B a.m. Believing that tho cost of living will not be seriously reduced during the next two years, wo agree to mereo the proposed war bonus of two shillings into wagos, and wo now offer a flat rise of throe .shilling per day to the mini-mum rate for. each grade of workers on the schedule in the last Agreement. That will mnke the minimum rate for anr adult worker 12s 3d per day, on which exi«tin<» overtime rn+c* w'll h« paid ' Youths to get 2s fid ni>r dnv incri>**f» on the rates specified in clause A of

tho old agreement, excepting those who are learning a trade, who will got a rise of 2s 6d per day on what they have been getting. 3. Holidays.— All men working seven shifts per week for not less than forty weeks in the year shall be entitled to sevon days' holiday on full pay each year. - 4. All other conditions to bo tho same as in the old agreement. 5. Tho rates offered will be paid as from February Bth. 6. Proferenoo.—Those six men who are at present exempted from joining tho union are to continuo in that position if they desire it. Alterations.,—Dirt money Is 6d per shift extra, in place of Is. Chambermen 8d extra, in place. of_ 4d ; No youths under tho age of eighteen to bo employed, at heavy striking in a blacksmith's shop.