WHARF WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26042, 4 January 1946, Page 4

WHARF WORK

“SPELLING” OPPOSED SURVEY BY COMMISSION The opinion that the “ spelling ” practice is a danger to the health of waterside workers, as men remaining in the hold are called upon to perform the work normally done by a full gang, is expressed in the annual report of the Waterfront Control Commission. " While the commission agrees that the workers performing manual labour are entitled to reasonable rest periods, there can be no justification for the present ‘ spelling ’ to continue.” states the report. “ Shift and Sunday work has been practically eliminated at Auckland and Wellington, and the average hours of work are not excessive. The commission considers that each worker should be allowed a reasonable rest period during each four-hour working period between meal hours, and discussions are taking place between the commission and the national executive of the union with a view to obtaining their co-operation in putting the proposals into effect.” Guaranteed Wage Scheme The guaranteed wage of £3 6s a week applied only at the ports of Auckland, Wellington, and Lyttelton, and was, in fact, a guarantee of employment to that value, adds the report. It was restricted to A grade waterside workers who observed the bureau rules, and where a worker suffered any penalty he forfeited his right to the guarantee during that week. Though the union had from time to time made requests for the extension of the oresent scheme to other ports, no effort had been made to submit alternative proposals. The union, m requesting the extension, would not depart from the guarantee based on weekly earnings, and the commission found it difficult to justify payment in one week where the earnings of the worker might have been as high as £lO to £ls in both the previous and succeeding weeks. It suggested that the scheme for secondary ports be based on a fourweekly average. The commission considered, however, that a more comprehensive scheme should be provided to cover all ports. In the meantime the union and the New Zealand Waterside Employers’ Association had been requested to prepare detailed proposals setting out their views. Contracting System

Tec greater portion of the commission’s staff has been engaged in connection with the operations of the co-operative contracting system,” the jeport continues. “This system, based on payment by results, has, on the whole, shown very satisfactory results. The change-over from the wage basis has not been made, however, without certain doubts and mistrust by some sections of the union. The commission feels that this is in part due to lack of understanding as to the true position and the principles of the contracting system. “ For some time discussions have been taking place regarding what has been termed ‘ overall ’ contracting and the granting of further responsibilities to union members,” states the report. “The present contract system, which is based on the ‘ winch ’ time or working time only, does not provide any incentive to workers to reduce delays and petty disputes about dirt-money claims. Under the proposed ‘overall’ contract, the rate would include all delays, removal and replacement of hatches, restowing and shifting of cargoes, special cargoes, dirt money, minimum periods, etc. This would provide an" incentive to the men to reduce the number of delays and dirtmoney disputes.

“ It is also proposed at ports where union members have shown that they are capable of accepting responsibility to grant some control in the management or supervision of the job. The commission proposes to give this system a trial at an early date.”