EFFECT OF GUARANTEED WAGE DECISION

Chronicle (Levin), 3 December 1946, Page 7

EFFECT OF GUARANTEED WAGE DECISION

-Press Assoeiation

By Telegraph—

vv iiii-iijXiN vi ± uiN , eec. z. The general secretary of the New Zealahd Waterside Employers' Assoeiation (Mr. M. T. Holm), in replying to Mr. Hill's statement in the press in connection with the guaranteed wage decision, states: — "It is difiicult to understand what Mr. Hill means wheu he states that the employers have received a gift from the Waterfront Industry Commission. To put the matter in true perspective the position up to the date of the decision was that the waterside workers were guaranteed work to the value of £3 6s per week, or failing work were paid that sum. The position under the recent decision, liowever, is that A grade waterside workers at all main poi'ts and sojne secondary ports are to be guaranteed work in each fourwreekly period to the value of £25 or are to be paid that sum. B grade ■vvorkers are to receive £21 under siinilar terms and conditious. "Furthermore, the new provision giving men who are required to attend for engagement an attendance payment is a concession. That phyment the men will receive apart from any guaranteed wage. Men whose carnings exceed the guaranteed wage will Still receive this •attendance money. It is obvious, tlierefore, that the employers do not regard the decision of the Commission in the nature of a gift. "Although the report of the Waterfront Control Commission for the year ended March 31 last shows the average hours of work for waterside workers at main and secondary ports as 41 i hours, it must be pointed out that at some ports many of the men only work lialt' of these kourS, as by a system of spcll,ing they only work liour about. rucluded in the average "liours shown in the Commission 's report are the unexpired minima: that is, payments made in excess of the aetual hours worked." Mr. Holm furthor points out that although the paymeut of £25 to A grade men and £21 to B grade men every four weeks is the minimum guarantee the men may and do average considerably more tlian this, the average weekly payment for waterside workers at main aud secondary ports for the year ended March 31, 1946, being £10/7/6. Notwithstanding this recent decision the worker who earns say £500 in eleven months will have to be paid £25 in the twelftli inoiith if tliere is no work for him in that month.