WATERSIDE WORKERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20707, 3 May 1929, Page 2

WATERSIDE WORKERS.

NEW SYSTEM OF WORK. THE NOMINATION CARL. (Per United Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, May 2. An interesting and important innovation in respect to the engagement of waterside labour baa been put into operation at Wellington, Auckland, Port Chalmers, and Dunedin. The new system, which was mutually agreed upon between the employers of waterside labour and the union, came into force on Wednesday, and is to be given a three months’ trial. Hitherto there has been a morning and an afternoon “ call ” for waterside labour, men seeking work being engaged between the hours of 7.45 a m. and 9.45 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 2.45 p.m. Under this system men who were not engaged at the morning “ call,” and especially those who 'lived at any distance from the waterfront, had to remain in the vicinity or “hang about” in the hope of getting a job at the afternoon call. This meant in effect that in the majority of cases more men than were likely to be wanted had to present themselves at the afternoon “ call ” on the chance of being engaged. Under the new scheme the afternoon cal! has been abolished. The hours of the morning call have been extended from 7.45 a.m. to 10.45 a;in., and a system of “ nomination ” of- men who may be required to'Start work at ships arriving in the afternoon has been introduced. The nomination call does not apply on {Saturdays, when the tima for engagement is- from 7.45 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. On Monday to Friday inclusive, for ships which have not arrived alongside the wharf, labour required to commence work at 1,30 p.m. or later may be nominated, at any time from 9 a.m. to the end of the call, to attend the place of engagement between 1.30 and 3 p.m. The foreman shall state the actual time between the above-named hours at which the men are to attend at the place of engagement, and the nomination shall be either confirmed or cancelled within 15 minutes from the time so stated by the foreman. If the nomination is confirmed or work commenced the men shall be paid a minimum of two hours at the ordinary rate if they start before 5 p,m., or three hours at the overtime rate from 6 p.m, ■ If the ship does not arrive or work is not commenced no payment shall be made, but the employer may cither cancel the nomination or order the men back for a later, time that day (but not earlier than two hours from the time for which they were nominated). This order back shall constitute a definite engagement, and the men who attend the second time shall receive the minimum payment provided, ordinary time or overtime as the case may be. When a ■ nomination call is cancelled the men nominated shall (if available at the labour stand) have preference of employment for the ship or job when labour is required, subject to the provisions of the transfer clause, while the nomination call is in fvree. Labour may be transferred after 1.30 p.m. for the purpose of making up shortages in gangs or facilitating the despatch of a ship which is finishing that night Such transfer ..hall bo allowed from one employer to another, if necessary. If the ship does not arrive at the time the men were nominated to attend, and the employer confirms the engagement,, he may in such case employ the men at any other ship or job worked by him until the chip for which the' men were nominated arrives. While the nomination call is in force .he employer shall, if he intends to work overtime, notify the mob actually working or nominated to that effect not later than' 4 , p.m., such order to be a definite engagement. Nominated men may be engaged: for: the intervening period, proirtdc<L such' v engagement does .not interfere-..with .their, attendance at the call for which they were nominated, and provided further that there are no members of the union at the place of engagement competent and willing to accept employment.