SEAMEN'S WAGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17424, 19 September 1918, Page 7

SEAMEN'S WAGES

of FIFTY PEII CENT. INCREASE - d » "WANTED. ™ . A circular lias beon sent to all tho " shipping owners in Now Zealand by tho I 1 ed erated Seamen's Union, asking that a conference; should be held at a a early date „ n v° £ on siaer the advisability of increasing- ' by 50 per cent, the wages of crews on overseas vessels (excepting intercolonial), and lrl « 5 por ccnt " in tho caso of all others. ' J"Q reason put forward in support of the demands is that a material difference in cirar cuinstances has arisen since the current ° m-';'"' 1 was m:i de in March of last year. »- Ihe union therefore suggests that a subsic • diary agreement should bo niado in the cur- ; n ron <j agreement similar to that which was ly made m 1915. so I*he wages of seamen and firemen on Pn i\ew Zealand-owner! vessels have been ina Teased by £3 per month during the war >n poriod. Tlie first increase was given on ig December 21. 1915, when the monthly rate V v' s raised by £1 ss. Tliat increase was o- sriven 12 months in advance of the date of V * G then ourrent agreement. A second increase of £1 15s per month was id givfen on March 1, _ 1917, F when an agreele ment was mado with a currency till 12 le months after the declaration of peace or ry lor throe years, whichever term was shorter. In other words, the current agreement does lg not expire till March, 1920. a- In addition to these direct increases in of wages other concessions were made. The in overtime rates were increased substantially, ir- and a differentiation as to the classes of of work was abolished. Formerly tile overip timo rates were Is 3d per hoiir for ship's at work and Is 6d for cargo work. These 2d wero altered to a flat rate of Is ,8d per lis nout. Subsequently this flat rat© was inst creased to 2s per hour. Provision was also p. made for tho establishment of an eightnoiir day on small vessels. io „ 1} le present rates of waives on New >„ Zealand shins are as follow .—Sailors and [ 0 .rmjmers, £11 per month for ordinary id t,m °; greasers and firemen, £13. These J. v ' a ? cs are almost equivalent, to those r- a 1"'!?.*'?" in respect to ships running out of 0 £ British ports, for which vessels the rates jp na\e been expressly fixed to meet extra re ]T ar ri=ks f"? a very abnormal increase in m the cost of hvmg. rs 'P lO ''"ion s request for a conference has l e n ot yet been considered by the shipping owners concerned. °