CITY COUNCIL EMPLOYEES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14977, 26 May 1914, Page 8

CITY COUNCIL EMPLOYEES.

WAGES AND HOURS.

£-J 13* (3d FOR As\ HOURS. The matter of wages and hours of the City Council's employees letl to a prolonged discussion at the mooting of the Council last night. Pursuant to notice tho Mayor moved. ■—"That the wanes, and hours of employees affected by the award that catno into operation on December 31st bos altered jus follows: —Hours to be 45} per week instead of 44 ; wages to be L' 2 I'h Gd instead of £2 11s -Id." Mr Holland said that in proposing the motion, tho first reason that had weighed with him was that he did not consider that £-' Us -Id was sufficient ior a workman to livo on and bring up a family decently. Twelve months n<Ao the Council decided to pay its employees £2 14s per week, and uiat was not considered too much to pay for tho class of work the Council's employees Lad lo perform. He knew of no circumstances that had in any way tended k> reduce tho cost of living in tho iiH-autimo. On the contrary, the cost of living had advanced. Bread, for instance, was dearer, and other commodities that entered into daily consumption were certainly no cheaper. ]t x.14s was considered a fair and reasonable wage twelve months ago, sureiy it *.vas not too much to ask that £2 lbs (id should be paid this year. The motion did not mean a-rise in wages, it simply meant placing tho men on as nearly as possible tho same looting as they were a. year ago. The second reason that hati influenced him was that the Coun-

cit cc&ld not perioral xhe eamo duties

with tilt- j-aiiio staff working -14 hours ivook th.nt it did when working 4V hours per week. It mignt be Raid that the Council should increase its staff, so

as to do all the work dono in 47 hours

Jlis reply to tiiat was that such a • course would great i> increase the cost of tho work to bo done. The wage- .

hhcet would bo as large as it was twelve

nionthb ago. In addition the CounciJ ■would have to purchase additional

horses, additional at ays, harness, additional stabling would havo to be pro-

vidod, extra tor shoeing, extra for horse-feed; all these would greatly swell the cost of administration. Tho engineer estimated that 5 per cent, less

work was being done now than formerly. His resolution meant that approximately 15,000 extra hours would bo done per annum, and ho believed that would bo sufficient to do all the necessary work, and each man. would receive 2s 2d per week more than at present.

Cγ. Otle.v said the motion was one of tho most iniquitous he had ever heard of. That evening the Social Democratic members wanted the Council to find work for tho unemployed, yet it was proposed that the Council should work their present staff overtime. There was nothing more iniquitous than to work overtime when there were men out of work. The only excuse for overtime was that additional men could not be got. At the present time, if the Council wanted an extra 200 men it could get them easily. If the men were to be worked longer hours then the Council would have to discharge four workmen to allow the .others to get in their overtime. If more men were wanted, then they should bo employed. If tho labourers were worked longer hours, then - the carters-and drivers would also have to be. paid overtime. ' Cr. Hunter moved as an amendment "That the men Teceive £2 15s for 44 hours , work." Considering the cost of living, £2 15s was Quite- a reasonable amount.

Cγ. Sorensen said that Cr. McCombs on a previous occasion had moved that tho men should bo paid £2 los, but the Council then had decided it would be better to. employ more men rather than to employ less and pay them overtime. The Arbitration Court award was for a 44 hour week at so much an hour, and the Council had followed that award. The Council's men were in a favoured position, and it was not.fair for the Council to pay the men more than men. in similar positions outside were paid.

Cr. McCulloiigh, who seconded the amendment,' said he was an advocate of a- decent living wage, whatever the nature of a man's work might be. At tho present time the Council's men were underpaid. The Arbitration Court's award was the minimum paynblo to the poorest class of employee in the irado affected. ■._,"■

Cr. Reynolds said that no private em-, ployer would keep his staff down in Order to pay overtime to those in his employ. The. Council should act as a private employer would.

Cr. Hay ward said ho -would favour £2 15s for a 47- hour week.

Cr. "McCombs said that would violate the award. Tho motion and the amendment were both consistent with tho award.' " . ■

. Cr. Bcanland said he was totally opposed to tho payment'of overtime. Tho Council should treat their employees exactly us privato employers did. He 'would- like to sco all men get more money. Tho City Councfl paid 9s 4d a <lay, and the Heathcote Council 8s 6d, but lie would not'like to see tho City Council's men reduced: to 8s 6d.

Tho amendment, on being put, was lost by 11 votes to S. .

Cr. Bnrgoyne proposed a further amendment, that the wage should bo £2 13s Gd for a 44 hour week. Hβ objected to a week of more than 4-t hours. Tho general tendency all over the world was to shorten the hours anoT increase the wages.

Cγ. .Millar seconded the amendment.

Cγ. Otley"said he was willing that the Council should pay the current rate of wages. Tho Council should not be used as a lever to increase the wages of the men outside, i"

Cγ. "Williams agreed with .the Mayor's proposition. '■'-■.

. Cr. McCombs said that the Mayor's, motion," if carried, wonld practically 3iot affect the rates at all. The actual increase in wages would be £171, not £816, as was alleged by Cr. Sorensen. Cγ. Burgoyne's amendment was also rejected by 11 votes to 5. Cr. Hay ward moved a further amendment that the men .should work 46 hours for £2 14s 3d.

Cr. McCombs seconded the amendment, which he said was a reasonable compromise.

Cr. Hunter supported the amendment. %

Cr. Sorensen said he would vote against overtime. Cr. Beanland said he also was opposed to overtime. '

Cr. Otley said he conld not understand the attitude of the Social Democrats, when they wanted men discharged in order that those left might work overtime. ,

Cr. McCullough said no councillor should allege that men - would have to bo discharged if the proposition were carried. He affirmed that when the hours were reduced, no extra men were put on. Cγ. Hayward's amendment was put, the voting being equal. Ayes: Crs. Hayward, Scott, McCombs, " Hunter, McCullough, Millar. Burgovne, and Taylor. Noes: Crs. Cooper. Reynolds, Loasby, Bennland, Williams, Otley, Sorensen, and tho MayoV. The Mayor gave his casting vote for tho noes.

Tho Mayor said he was pledged to support his motion, throuch thick and thin. If carried, it would not affect

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tho rates one iota. He felt sure if the motion were carried, the men would do their best to help the Council. The division was then taken, and the Mayor's motion was carried by nine votes to seven, the voting being: — Ayes: Crs. 'Hay ward. McCombs, Hunter. McCullough, Millar, Burgoyne, Taylor, Williams, and tho Mayor. Noes: Crs. Cooper, Loasby, Reynolds, Scott, Beanland, Otley, and Sorensen.