WELLINGTON TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 34

WELLINGTON TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES.

NEW EATE OF PAY.

WELLINGTON,

August 17.

After months of negotiation, settlement of the dispute between the Tramways Employees' Union and the City Council appears to be in sight. The union has practically decided to accept the conditions laid down by the Tramways Com--mittee of the council, with one minor exception. The proposals will shortly be submitted to the City Council for confirmation, and it is anticipated that the dispute will be brought to a close within the next week or two. The original demands of the union meant to the council an increased expenditure of upwards of £8000 per annum. They have not all .been acceded to. In no instance has the existing rate of pay been reduced, but in seyecal instances important advances, involving a considerable increase in the cost of running the tramways are proposed. The only point on which a difference of opinion exists is with respect to trackmen. The union asked that trackmen be paid Is Ojd per hour. At the present time they are earning £2 5s a week ordinary time, and are working four Hours overtime on Sundays at time and a-half rates, bringing their total earnings up to £2 11s. The extra cost to the City Council of placing the wage at Is o£d would be 19s 7d per week, or £50 18s 4d per annum for the 10 linesmen. A difficulty which presented itself with regard to clerks, timekeepers, and night foreman has been obviated by excluding them from the agreement, and permitting them to come in on the City Council staff. First-class motormen are to receive Is lgd per hour, and many second-class men are promoted. Second-class motormen will get Is Id ; first and second class conductors, Is per hour ; third class, ll£d ; car equipment adjusters. Is Id (an increase of Id) ; men employed at controller work, Is ljjd (increase %d) ; linesmen, Is 3d ; power-house "firemen. Is 2d (leading man Is 3d) ; greasers, Is 2d ; "handymen," Is 2d ; electricians, Is 6d ; wiremen, Is 4d {increase of 3d and Id respectively) J fitters, Is 4£d (increase l£d) ; engine-smith strikers. Is Id (increase Id) ; car cleaners, Is : emergency linesmen, £3 5s per week of seven days ; pointsmen, £2 15s per week of seven days ; powerhouse trimmers, Is per hour.

'"Talk about unearned increment!" said the chairman of the Manawatu County Council, at the last meeting. " About 30 years ago we purchased steel rails for the tram line at £3 a ton, and now, after using them for all the intervening time, Ift "are selling them at JB4 a ton."