THE TRAMWAYS TROUBLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17502, 19 December 1918, Page 2

THE TRAMWAYS TROUBLE

BALLOT TO BE TAKEN' TO-MQBJIQW.

SOME OF THE MATTERS IN DISPTJTJfi

The "go-slow" policy was pursued throughout yesterday. The public, especially those wiio use tho cars, are hopeful that something , to their advantage may come out of to-morrow's ballot, but tho general opinion, notably among tho tram men, seema to bo that a. strike ie within Bight. If the ballot should resolt in favour of a strike, the law requires that eeven days' notice of it must bo given. In Auckland recently the union ballot showed a majority in support of a strike, but no further action was taken. The men evidently considered that they had gained their end by thus forcibly drawing public opinion to their case. THE POSITION STATED. In view of the fact that a ballot is to be taken to-morrow on the two qiiestions strike or no strike—it is opportune that the position of the caso 6hould be briefly set out. As_ is usual _ in industrial disputes, the principal question at issue is that of wages. Tho men havo laid a number of other demands before the corporation, but it is an open 6ccret that if tho -wages asked for were granted' the "go-elow" policy would at once cease. . The employees' demands in regard to wages and the employers' proposals are as follow:— Workers. Employers. Pet hoar. Pcrhonr. irOTORMUN" AND GBJPMEN— TJnder one year ... ._...„ 1 5 1 4i Over one and under two years 1 S£ 15 Over two and nnder three yeara 16 , 1 5J Over three years ~ ... _. 1 6J 16 Oar Examiners .-._..„_. 1 6£ 1 51 Linesmen (leading) _ _ „ 1 7J 17$ Linesmen (assistant) _. _ _ 1 6J 1 6J Tower Wagon Driver ... 1 5J 1 4£ Permanent Way Eepoirera _ 1 6J 1 4} Car Cleaners ... ... _ _ 1 4 j 31 Track Cleaners ~- _ _ „. 1 5J 1 41 Gangers — ___„' 1 7$ 1 71 NIGHT SHUT— Watdimcn ...___ „1 e IEI Oar Examiners _. _. _ _ _. 1 7 16 Car Cleaners ~ _._.„_. 1 5J 1 4J In the case of conductors, the employees ask for the following rates: —First year, Is 4d per hour; second year, Is i£d; third year, Is 4£d; over three years, Is sd. The wages offered by the employers are: — Under one year, Is 3d per hour; over one and under three years, Is 3|d; over three years, Is 4i_d. The conditions of work in respect to broken shafts are not approved by the men. One shift has a spread of 13 hours 42 minutea to get in eight hours' work, llio management points out, however, in regard to this, that the shift, which occurs on Fridays, is only worked by the same men one day in 46 weeks. From Mondays to Thursdays 38 shifte out of 46 are straight. The remaining eight are broken, but each one is completed under 12 hours. On Fridays and Saturdays the broken shifte are greater in number than during other days of the week. In addition, there are what are known as the "G" tables, under which the average hours worked per day for a six-day week are 8 hours 9 minutes, the average spread being 13 hours 32 minutes. Broken shifts are almost inseparable from the running of a tramway system. As compensation for them, however, tho men have some advantages, of which, the principal are: Regular employment, annual holidays (ranging from eight to 12 days 'on full pay), free travel to and from work, free uniform, work that is not of an ardnou3 nature, previous experience not required, and right to appeal to an independent tribunal. THE HILL COMPANIES. ' It is _ understood that tho private cable e'eoin'panies art prepared to give the same Trages as the City Corporation—that is, an increase of 22 per cent, on present rates, with existing conditions. DISPUTES ELSEWHERE. ' It may be remembered that there was trouble in Wellington in September last, when the "go-slow" policy was carried on for days. A settlement was at last arrived at. The old agreement had provided an eight-hour day for motormen and conductors, who were paid as follow: — : Per hour. Motormen, first and second year 1 2^ Motormen, third year ............ 1 3 Motormen, fourth year and over 1 3£ Conductors, first and second year 1 l^ Conductors, third year :. 1 1£ Conductors, fourth year and over 1 2 Motormen with over seven years' service „ ... „ 1 4 Conductors with over seven years' service ; 1 2£ The new engagement provided for an increase of 11s per week to tho flat rate as scheduled in the old agreement, with the exception of motormen and conductors in the higher grades, who received an increase of 10s per week on the flat rate in the old schedule. Overtime in the old schedule was computed on a basis, of time and a-half, and this was increased bj Iα per hour. . It was also agreed that men outside the traffic department (principally those engaged in car shed work, permanent way, 4 and overhead equipment) should receive an of _lJid per hour on their previous ! 'schedule, with a 5 per cent, bonus added. In Christchurch the tramway men are at present agitating for 'higher wages. On Monday the hoard offered an increase of 7jr per cent, but the workers n;-e holding out for a minimum wage of Is 4d per hour, and the board has been granted one week to decide whether it is prepared to agree to the union's terms. "CLOSE DOWN." TO THE EDITOR. _ Sm,—-Your correspondent's tion to "close down" expresses the common sense of the oomnwmity; it is simply ridiculous that any public service should be at the mercy of a union of employees. Any Government, Borough Council, or other corporate body trifling with such usurpation of its functions should be dismissed without benefit of clergy.—l am, etc., Foot It. Dunedin, December 18.