A LABOURER’S GRIEVANCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144132, 30 June 1913, Page 7

A LABOURER’S GRIEVANCE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir.—Complaints hare appeared in the Herald at times with reference to the delay in handling cargo and the resulting inconvenience to tradespeople. Might 1 also point out that the casual labourers at the goods shed also have a grievance. . For instance, recently a a steamer arrived at the breakwater at 8.30, but it was 11.15 before the cargo w:is landed into the goods shed, and here us fellows. 23 or 24 of us, were kept hanging about all this time doing nothing. This is not an unusual occurrence, and it comes hard on us because we have to work eight hours before we can get overtime. Therefore we were kept hanging about for two or three hours, started work at 11.15, so that it would have been 8.15, allowing an hour for lunch, before 'our day’s work was finished and not until after this time could wo earn overtime. Then contrast the rate of pay per hour wo receive against that paid to the waterside workers, who get Is 6d ordinary time and 2s overtime, against our Is ordinary and Is 5d overtime, with nothing extra for holidays, for practically the same class of work. Why the difference? The work is no lighter by any means; in fact, a good deal harder, I am told by those that have tried both, for ah our heavy lifting has to be done by hand, whereas the wharf hands have the benefit of steam winches. Then, again, when the wharf hands are ordered down at a certain time to work the’ boats thev are paid from that time till discharged, although they may have to wait hours for the boat to berth, but we get nothing at all for waiting.—l am, etc., A GOODS-SHED HAND.