MINERS’ WAGES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23181, 20 April 1945, Page 4

MINERS’ WAGES

Increase Requested Employers’ Offer Not Accepted 'N.Z.PAj WELLINGTON. April -J. An application from the United Mine Workers of New Zealand for an increase of 2.4 a day to al wage workers and 10 per cent, hi all piece work rates in consequence of the Arbitration Court's recent pronouncement under which the basic wage rates were increased, received at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners’ Association this week, was the subject of a special meetmg to-aay attended by representatives of the Association, the United Mine Workers and by the Mining Controller. Mr C. H. Benny. For the miners it was stated, that their claim was based upon the recent pronouncement of the Court of Arbitration and in their opinion this ’ pronouncement was generally understood to imply that all w’age rates in New Zealand wou.d be increased by 31 an hour. It was added that workers in the freezing industry had recently concluded an agreement which had been approved by Court and which provided for a general increase of 3~d. an hour. In the discussion representatives of the proprietors quoted the earnings of various sections of coal mine workers showing they had. in fact, more than anticipated the Court’s pronouncement, and their wage rates were already substantially in excess of ’ the new basic rates laid down by the Court. The reply of the employers to the request w’as that as it was based upon the pronouncement of the Court and there was a wide difference of opinion between the workers and the employers as to what was intended bv the Court’s pronouncement, the claim should be submitted to the Court and the employers would be glad to facilitate the hearing of any such application. in response to this suggestion the workers representatives said they were not in the habit of referring coal mining matters to the Court, though there were some instances of awards in the coal mining industry. They 7 regretted that the employers were not prepared to concede the demands, but they would have to renort back to their members the fact that their request was declined.