WATERSIDE WORK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19862, 3 February 1920, Page 5

WATERSIDE WORK.

THE FEDERATION'S DEMANDS. WELFARE LEAGUE URGES CASE FOR PUBLIC. [From Otm Cop.eespon'Dext.] WELLINGTON, February 2. The New Zealand Welfare League points out that the main demands of tho. watersiders read as follows: HOURS OF EMPLOYMENT. Ordinary time, 8 in tho morning to 4 p.m. Overtime, 4to 5 and oto 8, time and a half rates. Special overtime 8 to 10, double time rates. No work after It) p.m., unless when tiuishiug a vessel, when work may go on till 11 p.m. On Saturday all work to cease at noon. Between Sunday midnight, and 3 on Monday morning payment at double overtime, with a minimum of six hours. Rates of pay demanded show an increase on ordinary time, hut with the overtime and special overtime the maximum increases range at (3d, lOd and Is lOd an hour ; while maximum rates range at Is Id, 2s Id and 3? 4d an hour. The increased scale of rates demanded vary a little at each of the chief ports. The principal items are General cargo handling, 2s 'id; ®oi\l, 2s 7d; trimming coal, 3s3cl; frozen moat, 2s ifkl; special cargoes, coke, 2s ( Jd, phosphates, etc., bulk, 3s O'd. bags 3s, explosives 2s Bd. and benzine, etc.. 2s lOd. Those rates are f rom 8 a.in. to 1 p.m.; Ito 8 time and a halt, 8 to ,10. double-. Work for a faction of an hour to he counted a full hour. Nine holidays in the year are provided. Sundays and Good rviday. treble ordinary overtime rate must be paid, with a minimum of eight hours, except in case of men taking ships lines, whose minimum is four hours. On general hoidays double overtime till 5, and treble thereafter. Men travelling to outsorts £1 daily, ns against 14s previously. Men ordered down and attending in ordinary hours to receive a-, minimum of three hours’ pay ; whether working or not, as against two hours. Men ordered down in overtime, hours to receive a minimum of four ; hours’ pay. as against two previously. Men ordered to commence at 11 a.m. ou Saturday to receive two houi's pay to noon. -Men ordered back alter the meal hour, ordinary time or the following morning, to leceivc minimum, pay for two hours, and in overtime hours to receive minimum pay for hours according to tho class of work. i nercases of men in gangs show General cargo, six men. 'This was previously lolt to the employers. Goal uork, shovelling in hold, five men as against four previously; shovelling screened coal, six men instead of five; bunkoring ships, live instead of tour; discharging by yardarm, eight ’ intend of six and ten instead of eight ror screened cool; discharging by scoop. \\neio three scoops arc used, five men instead of four, and four scoops, four men instead of three to each scoop; electric crones, ten men instead of eight. Reductions in weights of cargo bandied ; net or sling-—Ohgcses for oversea, 15 crates instead of IS, and coastal ships 9 crates instead of 12; butter, 40 the Auckland old limit of oo; rabbits, limited to 27 crates instead of 27 to 30; weights for trucking in loading or discharging, lOcwt for two men instead of 12cwt and oewt for one man instead or ojewt, trucking gang to bo not less than sis men. in dumping cargo ou the wharf iho trucking gang to bo equal to the number in the hold, and when stacking and sorting the men stacking must equal the number W lion discharging or loading general cargo, not more than two gangs at one hatch instead of three.

Ie Zealand Mchare League asks; "M hat do these demands,mean? The federation arc demanding the shortening of ordinary hours to Vnirtv--111116 weekly, limiting overtime, work by a. tremendous increase of rates, stoppage of night work at 11 p.m., whether ships are cleared or not, greatly increased pay, increasing the number of men in gangs and reduction of loads handled. Or, put bluntly, they ask for loss work, more men to do it. shorter hours and a groat rise in wages. The league asks how long is the public patience to last? The shipping companies and federation put their heads together to settle. The public has to pav, and has no hearing, although tho settlement increases the cost of living. The presentation of such drastic demands emphasises the justice of the league’s demand that such conferences should he pmlic and open to tho Press, as the public is tno most interested party. The time is past for the private settle, inent of such vital matters.”