'COAL MINCERS’ WAGES.

Western Star, 30 August 1918, Page 4

'COAL MINCERS’ WAGES.

RTPLY TO THE FEDERATION. WELLINGTON, July 24. Tile Coal Mine Owners’ Association, in reply toi the miners’ statement, recites lengthily the negotiaions which last year resulted in the miners accepting an additional bonus of 10 pea) cent, to shift workers and 7-h per cent, to contractors for a term of three years, or till six months after the war. This agreement is sill operating. The terms were refused by the Miners’ Federation representaives, but were accepted by individual unions. Therefore the owners now feel justified in refusing to meet the federation representatives, whose present attempt to disturb existing binding agreements, and awards under which, the unions have been working amicably indicates that the federation is still adopting the “ go-slow ” policy, which led to a prosecution in Auckland last year. The Owners’ Association is prepared I

at any time to meet representaives of the Workers’ National Organisation when they demonstrate indubitably that, their officials have abandoned the policy of creating industrial strife. The employers opine, that up to Janua.iy 10, when the Miners’ Federation demanded a further 20 per cent, increase in pay, there was. no sign of dissatisfaction among the miners, who 1 were working well and giving a good, output. The owners are thus confident that the workers have not organised the present dispute, therefor© the owners feel more strongly justified in refusing to. meet the federation. The employers have made an offer to the miners’ unions to pay an additional bonus of 5 per cent, to wages’ men and- 2 h per cent, to contractors and piece-workers for working the full available time in any fortnight. The bonus is not applicable to any special contract for which tenders bare been called. The federation representatives immediately instructed the unions to refuse this offer.

The returns l of wages show that if the full available time had been worked in 1917-18 no "worker would

have earned less than, ill weekly an:.; | it would Ixave been possible to earn nearly £7 per week. The proposed additional hours would increase the miner’s earning power from 8s 7d to 23s 5d weekly. Production could be increased 10 per cent., so that all essential requirements could he met, and householders not put to the hardship of being tireless, as many have been during the present cold spell. Referring to the cost of living, the owners point out that the increase herein has been less in the mining centres than elsewhere in the dominion.