CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17239, 15 February 1918, Page 7

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

TRAMWAY OFFICIALS' DISPUTE. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr W. H. HagsTcr) yesterday conducted a sitting of the Conciliation Council to hear the application of the Dimedin City Corporation Tramways Officials' Industrial Union of Workers for the establishment of an award. The Mayor, councillors, and citizens of Dunedin were the other parties to the award. The assessors for the Tramways Union were Messrs W. H. Mackenzie (traffic clerk), William Woolley (chief traffic inspector), and W. J. Steele (traffic inspector), ant] tho assessors for tho corporation .Messrs G. A. Lewin (town clerk) and C. Alexander (tramways manager).

The commission!?)- said this -was the first dispute of the kind in the dominion as fax as ho knew, involving not the operatives, but the officials of tho tramways department.

Mr Alexander said a certain number of officials were appointed by the council at a yearly salary, and he questioned whether their wages could bo fixed by tho court.

Tho Commissioner "aid ho had very littlo doubt that they could bo fixed by the* court.

Mr Lewin said that as this was the first case of the kind they desired that it should come boforo the Arbitration Court in any case. Certainly they would never agree to the incorporation of tho accountant. cVi'i' traffic clerk, and chief revenue clrrk in tho award unless by direction of the court. There were also certain legal points to be settled.

The corporation's assessors said that thoy had no power to discuss anything beyond tho wages definitely offered in their counterproposals. In view of this uncompromising attitude the union's assessors wero disinclined to put forward arguments ?n support of their wages demands .and it was agreed to pass over the wages clause. ' * The union claimed salaries and wages on the following scale, the corporation's coun-ter-proposals being added in brackets:— Accountant. £300 per annum (£280): chief traffio clerk. £280 (£220); chief revenue clerk, £250 (£220; depot engineer, £6 5s per week (£4 15s); car body foreman, £5 (£4 10s): overhead and permanent way foreman, £5 (£4 10s); traifie clerk, £3 15s (£3 10s): storeman, £3 15s (£3 10s); traffic clerk junior, £2 (£1 ss); revenue clerks. £3 12s 6d, plu- 3s a week war bonus (£3 10s): chie.f inspector, £4 7s 6d (£4 7s 6d); traffic inspectors, £3 17s 6d, plus 3s a woc-k war bonus (£3 17s 6d): ticket inspectors, £3 12s 6d, plus 3s a week war bonus (£3 12s 6d). The union asked that all Sunday work bo paid for at tho rate of 2s an hour, and that an additional day's pay b<» given for work on Christmas Day and Good Friday. The corporation asked that the rates provided cover work done on Sundays and overtime as required. Messr3 Lewin and Alexander strongly objected to the principle of hourly payment for officials.

Tho union proposed a fortnight's holiday per annum, members working on public holidays (except Good Friday and Christmas Day) to have an equal number of days added to their annual k'ave. Tho corporation objected to anything beyond the fortnight's holiday. It was found"that the question of holidays was associated with that of wages, and this clause also was passed over without agreement.

A clause reqiiiripg complaints against members of tho union to bo handed in in writing witb'n three days was agreed upon. It was agreed to strike out the union's "reorganisation" clause providing that any officer receiving additional duties should also receive additional pay.

Tho corporation's assessors objected to provision for sick leavo pay being mado in tho award, but they gave their assurance that as far as they were concerned tho present practice of granting such pay would ba continued, and the union agreed to drop the clause. It was agreed also to continue tho present practice with reference to tho issue of passes.

The preference clause proposed by tho union was agreed to, and tho term of tho agreement was fixed for ono yew. The roresult of tho conference was that agreement was reached upon all the matters submitted with the exception of wages and holidays, which are referred to tho court for settlement.