COOKS AND STEWARDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17871, 28 February 1920, Page 9

COOKS AND STEWARDS

CLAIMS AGAINST UNION COMPANY.

4 (P£B UNITE!' PEEB3 ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 26. "Are we to follow tho example of tho other employees of this company before we get an eight-hour day—strike, threaten to strike, or use the big stick?" This question was asked by the men's representatives in the Arbitration Court to-day during tho hearing of the industrial : dispute between the Federated Cooks and Stewards' Union and tho Union Steam Ship Company before Mr Justice Stringer and Messrs Scott and M'Cullough. Mr W. G. Smith appeared on behalf of the Union Company and Messrs E. Kennedy and H. Mannenli represented the workers. , It was announced that since the case was mentioned in Wellington the parties had met in conference, and had agreed on the items in dispute with the exception of wages, hours of work at sea. Overtime, and uniform wages. The demands were:— Second steward. £16 a month; chief saloon steward (head waiter), £13; steward in, charge of second saloon (where there aro three classes), £16; first-grade assistant steward, £13; fore cabin steward, £15; second-grade assistant stewards, £12 10s; pantrymen (either galley), £14; second pan. trymen (where three or more are carried), £13; assistant stewards (cargo or colliers), £12 10s; nightwatchman, £15; saloon stewardess, £13; assistant stewardess. £12 10s; fore-cabin stewardess, £12 10s : cadets, £5 to £9.

The union also asked that all overtime should be paid at a flat rate of 2s an- hour, cadets Is. Tho union further claimed that tho hours of labour at sea shall beeisht' hours a day, to be worked as required within 14 hours from the individual times rf the commencement of work for the day.' Any time worked in excess of eight hours or after the expiration of tho 14-hour limit to be paid at overtime rates. The present limit ia 15 hours, and tho number of bouts worked is 10.

Another clause in dispute* was: "No ■urnform shall be worn bv stewards unless it is provided by the employer or allowance made for its provision; white coats, trousers, and aprons to be washed at the exnenso of the employer." Mr Kennedy said the stewards had to put up with a considerable amount of inconvenience in their employment, and yet they did not receive as much. as unskilled workers ashore. If the demands wore granted the men would receive wages Tip to the stnndard of those recentlv awarded in Australia, Mr Smith said that in New Zealand the company for some time had been paying £1 more than the wages paid in Australia,. The company offered stewards an increase of 15s a month and oadete an_increa.se olv 25s a month, following the lines of tie increases granted to galley staffs. Mr Smith said the claim for an eight-hour day was only a means of getting overtime. Tho work was light and intermittent, and 15 hours was a reasonable stretch.

Alexander Naismith, at present acting superintending steward for the Union Companv at Dunedin. said that the ordinary routine work of the ship at sea could not always be done in eieht hours. To Mr Marment: Witness did not say dint an eight-hour dav wad impossible. ' It, would mean carrying a greater number of stewards.

His Honor, in announcing that the court would reserve its decision, congratulated the parties on the clear, concise, temperate way in which the case had l>een presented. The court adjourned till Monday.