POWER BOARD WORK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19478, 23 December 1925, Page 15

POWER BOARD WORK

EMPLOYEES’ CONDITIONS FIXED BY THE COURT ARBITRATION AWARD ISSUED The Arbitration Court has issued an award covering the Wanganui-Rangi-tikei Electric Power Board Employees’ I nion and the Board. In a memoraadum attached to the award the Court states: —“This award is based largely upon the recent Auckland award. No recommendations were filed. The Court was asked by the board’s advocate to include a definition of general labourers’ work, and to provide a rate of wages for general labourers. The Court, however, considers that general labourers are properly dealt with, in a general labourers’ award; and, further, that the. work of linesmen’s assistants and cablelayers’ assistants necessarily involves the performance of a certain amount of labouring work. In order to avoid confusion the Court thinks it better that labourers who are employed solely as labourers should not be brought under this award. A linesman’s assistant and a cable-layer’s assistant are, of course, entitled to the wages and conditions fixed by this award, notwithstanding that their work may be largely labouring work.” The award will come, into force on January 4, 1926, and remain in operation for two years. Details of the provsions are as fol lows: — Interpretation. 1. (a) “Linesmen’s work” means and includes the complete installation of overhead electric light and power mains from the supply station to the point of connection to tho consumer’s premises, tho erection and connecting up of street lamps, and all repair work in connection with overhead mains. (b) “Linesmen’s assistants’ work” means and includes the carrying-out of all necessary work in assisting linesmen, and under their direction.

(c) “Cable-jointers’ assistants work” means and includes all work generally performed in connection with the laying of cable-mains and carried on under the directions of the foreman cable-layer. Wages. 2. (a) The following shall be the minimum rates of wages: —Cable-joint-ers 2s 3d per hour; linesmen 2s li per hour; linesmen’s assistants Is lid per hour; cable-jointers’ assistants Is lid per hour; cable-layers’ assistants is IOAd per hour. (b) Alan in charge of four or more linesmen or cable-jointers shall be paid Is per day in addition to the appropriate rate provided for above. (c) In the City of Wanganui wages shall be paid weekly and in money, and elsewhere as may be agreed between the board and the workers concerned. Hours. 3. (a) Forty-four hours shall constitute one week’s work. (b) The working hours shall be eight hours per day on the first five, days of the week, and four hours on Saturday, and shall be worked between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on tho first five days, and 8 a.m. and 12 noon on Saturdays. (c) If it is necessary .for work to cease owing to wet weather the men shall be paid for no period less than half a day after having once commenced work. (d) Every endeavour shall be made to find work for regular hands during wet weather. Overtime.

4. (a) All time worked in excess of the hours mentioned in clause 3 hereof shall be paid for at the rates of time and a half for the first four hours and double time thereafter. (b) If at any time a worker is called out after having ceased work, then the time so worked shall be paid for at ordinary overtime rates, to be computed from the time of leaving home to the time of return. (c) Should the -worker receive notification of his being called out prior to his ceasing his ordinary work, he shall in such case only be entitled to overtime rates for the time he. has actually worked. Holidays 5. (a) For all time worked on Sundays and holidays as provided hereafter, or authorised from time to time by the Power Board, double time shall be paid. (b) The following shall be the recognised holidays: New Y'ear’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Alonday, Sovereign’s Birthday, Labour Day, Anniversary Day, Anzac Day, Christinas Day and Boxing Day. (c) All workers who have been in the employ of the board for a period of three months or more shall be entitled to ordinary wages in respect of the holidays mentioned. (d) Double time for such workers shall mean tho ordinary rate for time worked in addition to the day’s pay. Subtirban Work. 6. (a) “Suburban work” shall mean work performed at a distance of two

miles or over from the Chief Post Office at ’Wanganui. (b) Workers shall he at the place where the work is to be performed at the hour appointed for commencing W'ork, but if such place is distant two miles or more from the Chief Post Office aforeni' ntioned, workers who are so employed shall bo allowed and ]»aid at ordinary rates for time reasonably occupied by them in travelling to and from such work beyond the two miles aforementioned, or they shall be conveyed to and from such work at the cost of the employer. (c) No worker who resides less than two miles by a < mvonient mode of access for foot passengers from the place where tho work is to he performed shall be entitled to the allowance mentioned in this clause. (d) All tram fares incurred by workers proceeding to and returning from work for distances over two sections from the Chief Post Office shall be paid for by the employer.

Country Work. 7. (a) “Country work” shall be deemed to mean work performed by a worker which necessitates his lodging elsewhere than at his usual place of residence. (b) A worker employed on country work shall be conveyed by his employer to and from work free of charge, or his travelling expenses going to and returning from such work shall be paid by his employer, but once only during the continuance of the work if the work is continuous and the worker is not in the meantime recalled by his employer. (c) The employer shall either provide every worker employed on country work with suitable board and lodging while so employed or shall pay the worker 4s 2d per day in addition to his ordinary wages.

(d) Time occupied in travelling shall be paid for at ordinary rates, but no worker shall be paid more than an ordinary day’s pay for any day occupied by him in travelling, even though the hours occupied may exceed eight unless he is on the same day occupied in working for his employer. (e) When a worker is employed on country work at such a distance that he is unable to return to his home at night, he may agree with his employer to work at ordinary rates in excess of the hours prescribed in clause 3 hereof. This shall not apply to work done on Sundays and holidays. Tools.

8. All necessary tools shall bo pro- i vided by the employer. Employees shall sign for any tool served out to , them if requested by the employer, and ; shall return such tools in good order. > subject to fair wear and tear, or p: . = for them. Accident Provisions. 9. A suitable ambulance first-aid i outfit shall be supplied to each cart. Safety Outfit. 10. Workers shall when necessary be supplied with best-quality gloves and life-belts when on live overhead work, and best quality ghivcs and mats when on live underground work. Stone-Work. 11. (a) Workers employed on machine drills or as shot-lircrs shall be paid 2d. per hour e. ra. (b) Alen employed at hammer and drill work shall be paid Id per hour Higher-Grade Work. 12. Any worker put to do work of a higher grade shall receive the wages of such grade while so employed. Matters not provided For. 13. Any dispute in connection with any miatter not provided for in this award shall be settled betv. ’"ii tho employer’s representatives and the secretary or president of tho union, ami m default of any agreement being arrived ! at then such dispute shall be referred to tho Conciliation Commissioner for tho district, who may either decide tho same or refer tho matter to the Court. I Either parly, if dissatisfied with the I decision of tho Conciliation Commission- ' er, may appeal to rlic Court upon giving written notice of such appeal to the party within seven days after such I decision shall have been communicated | to the party desiring to appeal.