CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19198, 14 June 1924, Page 17

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

MKTAf, WORKERS’ DISPUTE. EMPLOYERS NOT REPRESENTED. A sitting of tho ('oueiliation Council was held yesterday morning with the object of hearing (he industrial di.-pute fill'd by the Otago Metal Workers’ Assistants’ Union against the Otago Ironmasters’ Association and a number of other employers. Mr 11. flagger (Coneiliation ('onunissioner) presided, and the following assessors were present, on behalf of the union; Messrs A. J. Ski I beck, J. M’Cmmell, and A. Annan. 'there were no assessors presold, on behalf of the employers. The secretary of the Ironmasters Association forwarded a letter pointing nut, that, a dominion dispute had been created by the employers. This dispute had been filed in Wellington on April 17, and (be hearing was lo lake place there at a silling of a. Dominion Conciliation Council that, day. . Cutler the cireumslances the employers would not lie represented at the sitting in Dunedin. After reading the letter Mr flagger said Ihpt any reeotnmendal ion made I>y the Conciliation Council to the Arbitration Court must he unanimous, so that they would not he able lo make any recommendation for the settlement of this dispute in view of the fact that a dominion silting was being held in Wellington, lie pointed out that (lie dominion dispute was Hied prior to the local dispute. The only thing to be done was lo refer the dispute lo the enurt with tin explanation of what had been done. Mr Evans stated that, provision was made for the appointment of other assessors if those originally appointed failed to attend. '1 he union wanted the Commissioner to exercise his power in that direction. Tim Commissioner said he would ho unable to do so on this occasion on account, of the amended Act, which provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the principal Act ‘tiny industrial association of employers or workers including in its membership industrial unions in more than one industrial district, might make application for the hearing by a Council of Conciliation of any Industrial dispute affecting two or more industrial districts in which it has affiliated unions. The Commissioner pointed out that as the dominion dispute was filed prior to the local dispute it would bo very unwise on bis part to attempt to force the employers lo come along with three assessors, seeing that they had already notified that they did not intend to he present. If they attended they would refuse to agree to anything, ami a wasted silting would lie the only result, as the dispute would still have to go to the rourt. Mr Evans said (hat allhough provision was made for a dominion dispute that did not affect, the fact that a local dispute could he created. In this ease a local dispute had been created. The Commissioner said ho had asked for information as to which dispute took precedence —whether a local dispute look precedence if it was filed first—but so far ho had received no reply. After further discussion the Commissioner said he, could appoint, other assessors if there was a possibility of a settlement, but not otherwise, Mr Evans said he took it that (his dispute would bo taken by the court, in Dunedin. r l.lie Commissioner said lie could not: say what the court, would do. He would refer the matter to the court, and if it wore referred hack to the Conciliation Council ho would arrange for a silting at as early a date as possible. The union asked that the hours ot wort; he the same as in the pesent award and that, overtime he paid for at the rate of time and a-half for (he first three hours and at double rates afterwards. The minimum wages asked for were: —Planers, shapers, slotters, and borers, 2s 6d por hour; surfacemen, ?,s 6d per hour; workers on oxy acellene and electric welding, 2s 7d per hour; all other machinists, 2s 5d per hour; steel window and door workers, 2s fid; steel frame, lift, and grill workers, 2s 6d per hour; blacksmiths’ strikers and work on ships and marine boiler work, 2s 5d per hour; implement assemblers, 2s 5d per hour; ail other workers. 2.s 4d per hour. The wages asked for hoys and youths were as follows: Under 15 years of age. £1 per week; from 15 to 16 years of age, £1 5s per week; from 16 to 17 years of age. £1 10s per week; front 17 to 18 years of ago, £1 15s per week; from 18 to 19 years of age, £2 10s per week ; from 19 to 20 years of age, £3 per week: and thereafter the minimum rate of wages proscribed. Amongst the ot her claims were the following:—Ail ship’s work shall lie considered dirty work, and shall bo paid Is 6d per day extra as dirt money. Workers employed outside the shop on dirty repair work .certified to as such by the foreman, shall be paid Is 6d per day extra as dirt money. The day to mean any portion of the ordinary working day or shift a worker may be employed at that work. Any worker required to work in confined spaces or oomparlmenls where (he heat exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit shall be paid at double ordinary rates.