THE COAL STRIKE

Southland Times, Issue 19249, 13 June 1921, Page 5

THE COAL STRIKE

MINERS’ BALLOT PROPOSALS A TEMPORARY AGREEMENT WAGES AND PROFITS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) i (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 10. (Received June 12, 5.5 p.m.) The miners’ paper states that the first reduction in wages will not exceed two shillings a shift for all workers sixteen years of age and upwards, and a shilling shift for workers under sixteen. There will be no further reduction until August 1, further reductions after August to be agreed upon mutually until the Government grant is exhausted. The temporary agreement will end as soon as the Government grant is used up. As regards a permanent scheme, the owners propose a national board to fix principles for the guidance of district boards comprising an equal number of mine-owners and miners, with an independent chairman. The parties have already agreed upon the principle that profits shall only be a fixed percentage of the wages paid. The board will fix the percentage of profits to wages and the amount of the new standard wage. The owners have offered to accept as a standard the wages paid in July, 1914, plus district additions, plus a percentage to piece workers caused by the reduction of hours from eight to seven, and a minimum of 20 per cent, added thereto, this minimum to continue until June, 1922. Wages under the permanent scheme are to be based on the capacity of each district to pay. If day workers do not receive a subsistence wage the district board will fix a wage. The decisions of the national board are to be binding on both parties for one year after they are made, subject to three months’ notice. The ballots are returnable on June 17. Mr Smith states that a two-thirds majority is required for the continuance of the strike.