TRAMWAYMEN'S DISPUTE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 53, 8 April 1914, Page 5

TRAMWAYMEN'S DISPUTE.

BEFORE THE CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

A sitting of the Conciliation Council was held to-day to consider the industrial dispute between the Christchurch Tramways Employees' Union of Workers and the Christchurch Tramways Board. The Conciliation Commissioner, Mr J. R. Triggs, presided. The assessors for the union were. Messrs H. Hunter, J. Crowley, and J. Nind, and for the board, Messrs J. A. Flesher, G. T. Booth, and A. W. Beaven. Before the points at issue came under discussion, Mr Hunter moved that the council sit in committee. There was a feeling, he. said, that the matters in dispute should be dealt with strictly in committee, so that anything that was said during the discussion should be said absolutely without prejudice and should not be quoted before the Arbitration Court. The other assessors agreed that the business should be taken in committee. RATES OF PAY. The union's proposals as to rates of pay were:- —Motormen, first year's service 1/1$ per hour, second year's service 1/3, third year's service and after 1/4s. Conductors, first year's service 1/1," second year's service 1/2s, third year's service 1/4. Motormen and conductors in charge of trailers, Id per hour extra, and motormen and conductors while training students to be paid 3d per hour extra. Conductors, when qualified as motormen, receive not less than the rate of pay they were receiving as conductors, service in either capacity to count as service rendered in both for the purpose of computation of rate of pay, to ensure that promotion of a conductor to motorman shall not be accompanied by a reduction in the rate of pay. Other wages proposed by the union were:—Leading linemen, 1/4$ per hour; assistant lineman 1/3, pitmen and controller men 1/4, assistant pitmen and greasers 1/2s, cleaners 1/2, permanentway men 1/3, track cleaners 1/2, powerhouse firemen, greasers,' and handymen 1/3, all other workers 1/2. Other clauses were:—Horse-drivers shall be paid for all time occupied in attendance with vehicles. Men working on night shifts to be paid one penny per hour, in addition to the rates mentioned. No deduction shall be made for time lost, except time lost by the worker's own default. Wages must be paid fortnightly, on a set day and in"the board's time. \ The board's proposals were as follow, with the rates of the present award given in parentheses.:—Motormen, under one year as motorman, 1/1 (I/Of) ; over one year as motorman, 1/1$ (1/li); over two years as motorman, 1/2 (1/lf); over three years as motorman, 1/2$ (1/2J). Conductors, under one year's, service, 1/(ll$d); over one year's service and under three years' service, 1/0$ (1/-); over three years' service, 1/1 (1/Of). Retention of a clause in the old existing award, providing that the promotion of mjjtormen and conductors from one rate of pay to another should be subject in all cases to the record of the employee being satisfactory to the which should also have the power of disration, the board to be the so\e judge in such matters, subject to the right of appeal _ conferred by the Tramways Amendment Act. The board's proposals regarding the wages of other workers were as follow, the rates in the existing award being given in , parentheses, except in cases where the old classification was departed from:—-Leading linemen, 1/3$ (1/3s); assistant lineman and emergency men, 1/2 (1/2); pitmen and controller men, day shift 1/2, night shift 1/2s; car greasers 'find assistant pitmen, day shift 1/0$ (1/-), night shift 1/1 (1/0$) ; car cleaners, day shift 1/0$ (1/-), night shift 1/1 (1/0$); permanent way men 1/1$ (1/1) ; track cleaners 1/0$ (1/0) ; track cleaner driver, 1/2; power-house firemen and greasers, 1/1 (1/1); horse drivers, 1/(1/-); casual workers, 1/- (1/-). The union's proposals regarding workers under 21 years of age followed the existing provision. HOURS AND OVERTIME.

On the question of hours, the union proposed that for motormen and conductors these should be eight hours for each week-day, all time in excess of this, up to twelve hours per week, to be paid for at time and a half rates, and time over that at double Tates. It was further proposed that work on statutory public holidays should be paid for at time and a .half up to hours, and double rates afterwards. If a motorman or a conductor was called upon to attend for duty on Sunday, but was not required, he should receive a minimum of four hours' pay. All time worked by all employees on ChristmaSDay, Good Friday, and Sundays should be paid for at double rates.

The board proposed that the hours of work for motormen and conductors be 96 per fortnight, divided as far as possible into 12 days of eight hours each, provided that the hours on any one day be not less than seven on week-days and six on Sundays. If men were called on for duty on Sundays and not required, two hours should be allowed. Meal time should not be counted in computing hours of work, except in the ease of car shed night shift, firemen and greasers, and, overhead emergency men. Time worked* by motormen and conductors in excess of nine hours on weekdays should be paid for at time and a half rates, all time on Sundays at time and a half, and on Christmas Day and Good Friday at double rates. Overtime for other employees was proposed at time and a half, with double pay on Christmas Day and Good Friday.

HOLIDAYS. On the question of holidays, the union proposed that all motormen and conductors who had been in the service of the board for 12 months should receive 12 consecutive week days in each year as a holiday, at the ordinary rate of pay, and that other employees should be entitled to 12 days' holiday per annum on full pay, unless the public holidays had been received by them as they occurred, and payment had been made for them. The board's counter-pro-posal was that holidays for motormen and conductors should be eight days. OTHER MATTERS. The union asked that motormen and conductors be supplied with uniforms free of cost, that conductors' shortages should be set off against"''overs," and that all employees should be allowed to travel free upon the cars and should be provided With passes. The board offered to supply uniforms at onefourth the cost thereof, and desired to retain the present conditions governing shortages and passes. The board proposed that motormen and conductors should be relieved for meals, except on Sundays and public holidays. ■ • There are many minor proposals

under discussion. The council will not complete its consideration of the dispute until it has received the terms of the Wellington tramways award, and so, after making as much progress as it can in the meantime, it will adjourn, until after Easter.