OTAGO COAL MINES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3043, 10 July 1912, Page 5

OTAGO COAL MINES.

DEMANDS BY THE MEN. A DELICATE POSITION. DRASTIC PREFERENCE CLAUSE. The trouble at Kaitangata between a certain section of the miners and the mineowners has now reached what may be termed a critical position. The Kaitangata men practically control the actions ot all the miners employed in the other mines, for the large majority of the Otago coalminers work at Kaitangata, and they are the predominating influence. The position at Kaitangata itself, 'however, is a rather complicated one, in that the miners there are themselves divided. One section, comprising probably the greater number of employees, belong to a union which is affiliated with the New Zealand Federation of Labour; another section are members of a union which is registered under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, and a third section are quite content to look on, and seo which of the two other sections can secure the balance of power. . The industrial agreement which has existed between the company and the Otago Union has just expired, and the '• Federationists" —by which name the men working under the union affiliated to the New Zealand Federation of Labour are termed—hare now submitted to the Otago mineowners' proposals for a new agreement. The Federationists 'have now struck what they doubtless regard as a deadly blow at the Arbitrationists, as under the preference clause which they have submitted to the mine-owners thev are attempting to cut tho ground completely from under the feet of the unionists registered under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. The position is a verv critical one, but, even if the worst comes to the worst, the Arbitrationists say thev will not follow the Federationists, and come out on strike, but will continue work at Kaitangata. In the other Otago mines, however, the Federation of Labour is the ruling power over the men. THE FEDERATIONISTS' DEMANDS.

The following communication, \va:cn has been sent to all the mine-owners in Otago and Southland fully explains itself: "My union has instructed me to write to the various coal mine owners in Otago and Southland, asking them if they are agreeable to meet representatives of the Otago Coal Miners' Union for the purpose of entering into new agreements covering the wages and conditions of work in the different mines. As my union is of the Oninion that there are many things in connection with wages and working conditions in mines that should be uniform both in the interest of employer and employee, they ask you if you are prepared to meet representatives of the union together with representatives of the other principal mineowners for the purpose of arriving at a uniform agreement covering all matters that could be made uniform ; of course, so far as hewing rates are concerned, it is recognised that, owing to local conditions in each district, it would not be possible to make them uniform, but there are a number of other matters that should be uniform. I am forwarding you a copy of our schedule of proposed new rates and conditions of work. An early reply will oblige.—Yours truly, R. 11. Rinn,

Secretary of the Otago Coalminers' Union" (affiliated to tho New Zealand Federation of Labour). Then follow the demands.

Clauso 1 relates to tho cavilling conditions, all places to be baliotted for every three months. The most altera tion from the previou s award is in clauso a of this section, which provides: "Dips to be exempt from ballot, and to be paid for at the rate of 13s 6d per shift." [This means an increase :n the existing wage of 2s 6d per shift.] Weighing of Coal.—Alt coal shall be weighed by the company. Shift Hours.—Hours of work to l>e in accordance with " The Coal Mines Act. 1908," and its amendments for all underground workers. For all other workers the hours shall bo eight hours. Shift Wages.—Shift wages shall he not less than 12s 6d per shift, and 12s 6d for six-hour shifts when doing any work at fires.

[An increase of l s 6d per shift.] Clause 5 asks for an increase of from 15 to 20 per cent, in piecework. Othor important clauses ere: —Truckers: Truckers shall be paid as follows:—Fourteen years of age, 5 R per shift, with an increase of Is per shift for every year over

14 j-ears of ago until the ago of 19. Truckers over 19 years of age with six months' experience ehall be paid 12s per shift. [This represents an increase for the men of 2s per shift.] General provisions: Any miner taken away from tko face to do any work either inside or outside the mine shall be paid shift- wages (12s 6d per shift) ■and Is per shift extra for afternoon shift; 2s extra for night shift. Tho employer shall provide all tools for permanent shift men. Engine-drivers and Firemen: En-gine-drivers, where a certificate is required, shall be paid lis per shift; firemen shall be paid 10s per shift. [Also a substantial increase] Preference: Preference of employment shall he given to members of the union. If tho employer shall hereafter engage any worker coming under the scope of this agreement who is not a member of the union, and who, within one calendar month after his engagement by the employer shall not become and remain a member of the union, the employer shall dismiss such worker from his service if requested to do so by the union, provided there is then a member of the union equally qualified to do the work required to be done and.ready and willing to undertake the same.

NO IMMEDIATE CAUSE FOR ALARM.

As a result of conferences on the 3rd between the directors of the Kaitangata Coal Mine Company and the two bodies of men represented in their employees, the general public mav feel that there is no immediate fear of a strike taking' place at the mine, and, further, may fairly embrace the hope that the- whole trouble will bo smoothed over without resort to the adoption of that perilous and darrgerou* expedient. The directors who proceeded to Kaitangata wore Messr s R. Anderson (chairman of tho board) and C S'. Owen, and they were accompanied by Mr R. Lee, general manager. They first met in conference the representatives of the Otago Coalminers' Association (affiliated to the New Zealand Federation of Labour), these being Messrs James Simm (president), W. Shallish (treasurer), and F. Hebbard (member of the executive). This conference lasted nearly two hours, and was succeeded by ono of shorter duration with the following representatives of the Kaitangata Coalminers' Union —Messrs \V. A. Wilson (president), W. Brown (treasurer), C. P. Penman (secretary). G. S. M'Ghee, W. M'Ghee, J. C. Allan" A. Forrest, and Thomas Miller. At these conferences the references or claims from each body were not discussed, but attention was concentrated upon the conflict which had arisen between the two sections claiming to represent the miners. After having this matter threshed out and laid before them, the directors made tho following summary of the position and the attitude they feel themselves compelled to adopt in relation- thereto: —'"Operations at the Kaitangata mines were carried on till the end of Juno under an industrial agreement entered into between the company and the Otago Coal-miners' Union. This agreement would have run on until superseded either by another agreement or by an award of the court but for the fact that the Otago Coal-miners' Union has cancelled its registration under tho act. Since their tho Otago Union has become affiliated with the New Zealand Federation of Labour. That union is thus not in a position to enter into any legally enforceable ag.-eenient with the company to take the place of that which has just expired. The cancellation of the registration of tho Otago Union, and its affiliation with the New Zealand Federation of Labour, has led to the formation cf a Kaitangata Coal-miners' Union, which has been registered under the act. " This union has presented to tho company proposals for a new industrial agreement in the form of a ' reference.' Now, the 'reference' of the Kaitangata Union can be, and is intended to be, converted into a legally enforceable document Dy being made either an industrial agreement filed under the act, or, if necessary, an award of the court. Such an agreement (or award) would be binding upon the Kaitangata Union collectively, and upon all the member s individually, but not upon tho Otago Union or its members. " Tho Otago Union has also presented to tho company a list of proposals, or demands, on behalf of such of tho members of that union as are in the employ of the company. Now, tho Kaitangata Union is in a position to compel the company to carry on its work under regulations and conditions fixed under tho provisions of the act, oven if the company had an understanding with the Otago Union. " There cannot be two distinct arinngements for tho working of the mine—one for tho men beslonging to the registered union, and the other for the men belonging to the unregistered union. What follows? That

the company has no option but to recognise the Registered (Kaitangata) Union, and cany on, either under an industrial agreement or under air award to which the Kaitangata Union is a party. Although those Kaitangata miners who are members of the unregistered union will not be legally bound by such an agreement or award, they will reap the full benefit of it, as tho company could not, if it would, and would not if it could, make any distinction in its dealings with the men."

The decision of the directors is thus, it will be seen, to recognise the "Arbitrationists," and refuse to recognise tho " Federationists." This is not, however, by any moans to be taken as necessarily the prelude to a struggle. A very reasonablo spirit indeed was manifest yesterday on every side, and it may be said that neither party is avowedly anxiou s for a strike. The position as it stands may be expected to work out as follows: —In about 10 days' time or less the directors will again meet the representatives of the Kaitangata Coalminers' Union (the Arbitration body) and discuss their reference in detail with a view to arriving at an agreement which can be submitted to the Arbitration Court for its endorsement as an award. When it comes before the court it will then be the place of the Otago Coalminers' Union (the Federationists) to enter a protest and show cause why that award should not be granted. They will do this on the ground that the Kaitangata Union does not represent a majority of tho men—being, in their opinion, a very small section indeed of the total of the workers. It will rest then upon the decision of the court in relation to that application and protest whether any strike will occur. In the meantime it seems reasonably safe to assume that at least till then no difficulty will eventuate. THE CAUSE OF THE SPLIT. An inquiry into the cause of the uprising of the "Federationists" at Kaitangata reveals just another case of what has lately become very noticeable —the rebellion of manv unions from the jurisdiction of the Arbitration Court. The "Federationists" say that thev prefer to deal with the employers themselves rather than with the court. The causes for this feeling need not be gone into here. Suffce it to say that so far as the particular case of Kaitangata is concerned tho " Federationists " are using the argument that it is the only mine left where an isolated group of men desire to remain under the Arbitration Court. All the other miners, they claim, are under the Xew Zealand Federation of Labour, and they base their objection to the reference of the " Arbitrationists " binding them on the general ground that they desire uniformity in order to be able to obtain employment elsewhere than in Kaitangata should they desire to do so. They are also asking for higher rates of pay than are demanded by the " Arbitrationists." and their manner of looking at the situation is on these lines:—By letting the directors compel them (the "Arbitrationists ") to go before the court tho difficulty will be taken off their shoulders and put'on the court. When the "Arbitrationists" appear the " Federationists " will object and prove that they are in tho minority. The judge has never yet given an award in the case of a minority of employees apnlving. Should he refuse it, therefore, there will be a chance of tho "Federationists" presenting an agreement and getting it through.

In this programme it will bo noted Ihcre is no threat hold out of an immediate strike—nor, indeed, of any strike at all. As a. matter of fact fiuch a course was yesterday deprecated on all sides. Alt BITR ATIONISTS' CLA IMS.

The " Arbitrationists" present their case roughly as follows:—They claim that a majority of the men at Kaitangata are in favour of arbitration. Three ballots have been held on the question, and each time there was a majority in Kaitangata for arbitration though the weight of the outside mines in favour of cancellation overbore them in the case of the whole district. They desire continued arbitration because they may want redress in caws of dismissal niid desire a guarantee of protection. They desire also that strikers should be penalised. As things stand, " Federa-

tionists" can strike and do as they like without coming within reach of the law. An outline of tho monetary demands made by the respective bodies of men lias already been given in our columns in some detail. In bringing them together the following contrast is presented:— ,

In the case of truckers, who are of various ages, tho " Federationists " demand an increase of Is 6d per shift up to the age of 16, and 2s per shift thereafter. In the case of shiftmen they do away with all distinctions as to merit, and desire a uniform wage of 12s 6d per shift for good or bad workers. An increase is also asked for in the hewing rates on the ground that, there has been no advance for 12 years, and they consider one justified.

cC .a tn r£ .3 0 bn *•£ '■Z et-. o *x S~t ■g -rj .Shiftmen (ordinary ... . 10/ n/ — .Shiftmen (first class)... 11/ 12/ 12/6 Boiler firemen 8/6 9/ 9/6 Surface labourers 8/ 9/ 9/