FIVE-DAY WEEK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20512, 2 September 1936, Page 6

FIVE-DAY WEEK

COAL MINERS' MAKE REQUEST By Telegraph Press Association GREYMOUTH, September 1 The secretary, Mr A. McLagan, states that the National Council of the United Mine Workers has requested the Coal Owners’ Association to institute a fiveday 40-hour week in the coal industry as from September 1. Coal hewers have worked a five-day week for years, so that only shiftmen, truckers and other day wage workers are affected. The Miners’ Council is also seeking the restoration by the coal owners of the weekly computation of the minimum wage to the West Coast district, pointing out that the owners immediately imposed the 10 per cent, reduction when the Arbitration Court order was made but nothing like the same alacrity in restoring the 1931 wages level, the owners generally having to be compelled to give full restoration. The Minister of Labour has assured the miners’ representatives that the Finance Act provides for the restoration of the weekly make up or minimum. The owners have been similarly advised but have not yet followed the lead of the Mines Department, which has restored the weekly make up at the Slate mines. The Waikato disputes are being discussed this week at a conference in Huntly. while the Miners' Council and owners are discussing the Denniston trucking dispute.