WATERSIDE LABOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23647, 3 November 1938, Page 2

WATERSIDE LABOUR

CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS PORTS OF OTAGO AND TIMARU EVIDENCE OF CONDITIONS HEARD Evidence concerning the special conditions of work at the ports of Otago and Timaru were heard by the Conciliation Council yesterday in connection with the dispute between the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Industrial Union of Workers and the New Zealand Waterside Industrial Union of Employers. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr R. E. Price) presided The employers' representatives were Captains T. Bowling and A. J. L. Naylor, Messrs W. H. G. Bennett (advocate), R A. Foreman, Warwick Gregory. J. H. Duncan, G. G. McFarlane, A. A. Sinclair and M. P. Congdon. The workers' representatives were Messrs J. Roberts (advocate). J Flood, C. Fraser. G. Thomas. J. O. Johnson, G. H. Solomon, S. Flood, F. Gould, D. Copland and J. Cameron. The representatives of unions at the various ports were Messrs B. S. Macdonald (Dunedin). Aves and Bain (Port Chalmers), J. Flynn (Oamaru). and W. Craig (Timaru). The sitting will be continued today. ] The Workers' Claims The conditions claimed by the workers were that at all ports and for all classes of work the ordinary hours of work should be from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday, all other time, except meal times, to be classed as overtime. The rates of wages for all classes of work except where otherwise provided, at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin to be 2s lid an hour ordinary time. At al; other ports, except Westport and Greymouth. and for ship repair work, the rate to be 3s Id ordinary time. Additional rates for workers at roadstead ports were also sought. The rates of overtime at all ports, except where otherwise provided, to be time and a-half (ordinary overtime) until 9 p.m., and double time (special overtime) between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. The payment of extra rates on ordinary time, overtime, and special overtime to all men engaged in handling any cargoes specified in the schedule was also claimed. Various clauses concerning the cleaning up of ships' holds in port, dirty work, and the employment of ieading hands were included in the claims, and the rate of pay for Saturday work was asked to be fixed at time and a-half from 8 a.m. to noon and double ordinary time from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., while men required to work between noon and 1 p.m. to be paid double the rate applicable before the meal hour.

The workers also claimed preference of employment, subject to the right of the employers to employ Harbour Board or company's permanent hands, on taking or castingoff lines. Waterside workers carrying out such work before 6 a.m. and up to 8 a.m. should be paid a minimum of three hours at the general cargo rate for that engagement. The present practice for engaging labour to take or cast off ships' lines should continue. It was further claimed that standing-by time should include all periods during which men had been ordered to stand by when working operations had not been commenced or were suspended through any cause whatever; at all ports men ordered to stand by during ordinary working hours to be paid for general cargo only. Men ordered to stand by in overtime or special overtime hours should, it is claimed, be paid at the ordinary or special overtime rate, irrespective Of the class of work they were engaged for. For all work done on Sundays, Christmas Day, and Good Friday double the ordinary overtime rates was claimed, and for work done on any of the other holidays provided the special overtime rate. Ten holidays throughout the year were also provided for. Conditions Locally

Included in the special provisions for the various ports, the conditions for Dunedin 'were that Port Chalmers and Dunedin were not to be considered as outports in relation to each other. Travelling time of three-quarters of an hour should be allowed between Port Chalmers and Dunedin, conveyance to be provided by the employer. It was also claimed that, except where men finished work at 5 p.m. or 9 -p.m., they were to be paid for time spent waiting for conveyance back to their home port at the rate the men had been engaged at. January 2 was claimed as a holiday, and members of the Dunedin Union were not to be obliged, unless they chose, to work at Port Chalmers later than 9 p.m. Men working at Ravensbourne should be paid from the time of leaving Dunedin until their return, and supplied with meals free of charge and free conveyance. The Otago Harbour Board was to be exempt from the provisions of the award so long as it did not directly employ labour in connection with the handling of cargo, subject to special provisions applying to work in connection with repair and overhauling, or coaling the board's dredges, tugs, and hulk. Special provision was also made for ship repair and overhaul work and slip and dock work. The term of the award was to be one year. Employers' Counter-proposals In their counter-proposals the employers offered the rate of 2s 8d an hour for wages, with special additions at roadstead ports, the rates of overtime at all ports, unless otherwise provided, to be time and a-half (ordinary overtime) to 10 p.m and double time between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., except men engaged in handling .certain special cargoes. The rate of time and a-quarter for Saturday work from 8 a.m. to noon and the special overtime rate from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. was offered. Men employed on any of the special cargoes should be paid at the special rates in addition. Men engaged to work at other ports to be paid, whilst actually travelling, at the rate of £ 1 Is 4d a day. with meals, fares, and sleeping accommodation provided. It was proposed that work done on Sundays. Christmas Day, and Good Friday be paid for at double ordinary rates, and work done on any of the other holidays to be paid for at the special overtime rate. The special conditions appertaining to Dunedin were on similar lines to the claims made by the workers.