SAILORS' DEMANDS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 16824, 28 November 1916, Page 4

SAILORS' DEMANDS.

INCREASED WAGES WANTED.

Received November 27, 8.50 p.m. MELBOURNE, November 26.

In View of the five years' agreement between the Federated Seamen's Union of Australasia and the Commonwealth Steamship Owners' Association and others nearihg completion, the seamen's general secretary has written to the Owners' Association hoping that the cordial relation between the two will continue, and submitting terms for a farther agreement. This provides for allround increases as follows: Boatswains on over 4000-ton vessels, £10 ss. to £14 10s.. boatswains on other vessels, and lamp-trimmers £10 5s to £12 10s; able seamen £9 ss. to £11 10s.; ordinary seamen £7 5s to £7 10s; ordinary seamen (under eighteen years) £6 5s to £6 10s; donkeymen £12 5s to £12 10s; "fireman greaser £11 5s to £14; greaser £11 5s to £13; fireman £11 5s to £12 10s; trimmer £9 5s to £11 10s per lunar month. A number of other claims—regarding overtime payment, number of hands carried, compensation, crew's menu and treatment generally—are involved. The secretary of the Owners' Association comments that the claim for payment per- lunar month instead of per calendar month means an additional month's payment, while the special menu for the men would involve the employment of extra cooks and attendants. Shipowners stato that the increase in wages demanded does not nearly cover the liability, as conditions sought to be imposed' in many cases are almost prohibitory. The owners have already recently greatly increased wages and altered the conditions granted in regard to officers. Similar concessions are being asked by the engineers. One prominent manager declared that what the employers at present are feeling is the go-slow policy. Apparently no remedy will be forthcoming until the end of the war.