THE ENGINEERS' STRIKE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2293, 10 February 1898, Page 17

THE ENGINEERS' STRIKE.

London, F^braary 1

Tha officials of ths Engineers' Society estimate that 75 per cent, of the members will hav3 resumed work in a few days.

THE EMPLOYERS' TERMS.

Tne following details of the employers' terms are from files which arrived by the San Francisco mail : —

FREEDOM OF MANAGEMENT.

The federated employer*, while disavowing any intention of interfering with the proper functions of the trades unions, will admit no interference wifch the mauagnnvant of their business, end reserve to thens'?«*ff«* the right to introduce into any federated workshop, at the option of the employer conecrned, any condition of labour under which any members of the trades unions here represented were working at the commencement of the dispute in any of the workshops of the federated employers ; but, in event of any trade union desiring to raise any question arising from a dispute, a meeting can be arranged by application to the secretary of the employers' local association to discuss the matter. Nobbing in the foregoing shall be construed as applying to the normal hours of work, or to general rises and falls of wages, or to rates of remuneration for employment. Every workman shall be free to balong to a trade union or not, as he may think fi\ Every employer shall be free to employ any man, whether he bslong or nob to a trades union Every workman who elects to work in a federated workshop chall work peaceably and harmoniously with all his fellow employees, whether he or they bslong to a trade union or not. He shall also ba free to leave such employment, but uo collective action shall be taken until the matter has been dealt with under the pi'ovisiocs for avoiding disputes. The federafcioa do nob adv'sa their membars to objeei; to union workmen, or give preference to non-union workmen.

PIPCHWOKK,

The right to work at piecework at present exercised by many of the federated employers shall be extended to all Members of the federation and to all their union workmen. Prices to be p*id for piecework shall be fixed by mutual arrangement between the eaaplojer and workman or workmen who perform tha work. The federation will not countenance any piecework conditions which will not allow a workman of average efficiency to earn at least the wage at which he is rated. The federation recommends thafc all wages and balances shall be paid through tha office.

OVERTIME,

"When overtime is nscebsary ths federated employees recommend tha fol'owitig as t, biei-s and guide : — That no joaan be required to work more~ttiAfl~ ! 3 : u"hourß' overtime in any four weeks after full shop hours have been worked, allowance being made for time kwfc through sickness or absence with leave. In tha following e»s=s overiiaae is not to be restricted — viz. : breakdown of plant; general repairs, including ships ; repsir of replace work, whether for emp'.o;- er or customer ; trial trips. It ia mutually agreed that ia c*ses of urgency and emergency the restrictions shall not apply, fcbia basis to apply only to members of the trude unions who are represented at the conference, all o'her existing restrictions as regards overtime to be removed. It ia understood that if mutually satisfactory to the local associations of employers and workmen concern i\ the existing practices regarding overtime uQ&y be continued.

EATING OV WORKMEN.

Employers shall be five to employ workmen at rates of wages mutually satisfactory. They do not object to unions or eny other body of workmen in their collective capacity arranging amongst themselves ths rates of wage 6at which they will accept work, but while adnaiUiag fchi'? position they decline to enforce the rule of any society or an agreement between any society and its members. The unions will not interfere in any way wifeh the wages of workmen outside their own unions.

GENERAL ALTERATIONS IN RATES OF WAGES in any district or distiiets will be negotiated between the employers' local association and local representatives of trades unions for obhor bodies of workmen concerned.

APPRENTICES,

There shall be no limitation oJ the number of apprentices, or the selection, training, and employ menb of operatives.

Ths employers are responsible for the work turned out by machines or tools, and shall have full discretion to appoint nian they consider suitable to work them, and determine the conditions under which such machines or tools sb.»ll be worked. The employers consider it their doty to encourage ability wherever tbsy find it, snd shall have the right to selacb, train, and employ those whom they consider, best adapted to the various operations carried on in

tbeir vrork»hcpq, and will psy them according to tbeir t.Viii'ij aa v»orkrrrn2. I'KOVISIOKS FOE AVOIDING TjIVVVTS. With a vievf to aroid diuputß3 ;n tnt- future, a deputation of workmen will be r«i ived by fciifcir omj/loyers by appo'intmsut for the mutual dsßciii>;soa of questions iv the settiemstil of which both p*ri.i?s aro directly concerned. In th« case of disagreement thfc losul fcss^eia Lions of employers will negotiate with the Ifcil cffi<>ialß of the tradn unions. Ia the evtci of j any trades union dpsirinft fco raise anr qiieftiou 1 with an employers' assoeUfion a meeting caa be arranged by application to tho secretary of the employers' loc^l essociacit v to discuss the questi >n. Pailing * pettletnftnfc by lJae iocal association «nd trades uaion of any nutation brought before them the matter sbali h». forfcLwith referred te the executive board of federation aud the central authority o£ the tradets union, and pending the question being dealt with there shall be bo btoppag^ of work, either of a partial Oi.- of a general charae'er, bn: work shall proceed under current conditions.