FOUNDRY EMPLOYEES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19806, 23 May 1934, Page 11

FOUNDRY EMPLOYEES

NEW AWARD WANTED. By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, May 22. The restoration of the wage cuts imposed in the last two years and the re-establishment of the basic wage in industry at 2/3 an hour were sought by the engineers, moulders, boilermakers, iron, ship and bridge builders of New Zealand, with the exception of Wellington and Marlborough in a claim for an award heard at the Conciliation Council this morning. Another demand was for a 40-hour week. The respondents were the New Zealand Ironmasters Association and other employers. The employers counter proposed a 44-hour week and wages on the following scale:—Pattern makers 2/- an hour, tool makers 1/11, engineers 1/10 k, and down to 1/8 for grinders. Introducing the claims, Mr J. Roberts said the dispute had been proceeding since 1932. Employees refused to believe that their employers with whom they were on fairly good terms would not give them an award with a reasonable rate of wages. They ’■believed that without agreement there would be a feud in the industry. After a discussion Mr J. Roberts, lor the employees, remarked that the employees were doing all the talking and the employers saying very little. Mr T. O. Bishop (employers’ agent): I might as well make it clear at once that the employers are not prepared to advance their proposals regarding wages. Mr Roberts: In other words you do not want an agreement, because you know very well that we will not accept a wage for a skilled man that is lower than that paid to a navvy. As no agreement could be reached, the Council adjourned sine die.