WHAT THE WATERSIDERS GOT

Chronicle (Levin), 19 February 1947, Page 4

WHAT THE WATERSIDERS GOT

-Press Association

TE8BS OF new AG8EEMENT REEASH)

By Telegraph-

"WELLINGTON, Feb. 18. The waterfront settlement recommendntions from the Minister of Labour, Hon. A. McLagan, setting out the basis of settlement between the Governmeli-t and watersiders, was released today by Captain i\I. T. Holm, general secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Employers' Association who said that from a cursory examination it was apparent a heavy additional cost would be borne by the industry 111 addition to benefits in the way of the payment of meal money, payment for statutory holidays, and payment of time and a half for Saturday morning work which were conceded by the employers last August at an estimated cost of £180,000- annually. The terms ineluded no provision for any improvement in the general efifieiency of the waterfront work of New Zealand, said Captain Holm, and Jgnored Mr. Justice Ongley's decisions regarding the relaxation in the present restrictions 011 the transfer and mobility Cf labour. A11 emergency meeting of -the Association was begun in Wellington today to diseuss these terms and the meeting continued this afternoon. 4 The terms summarised are: — « Two hours' guaranteed attendance pay in the event of 110 work. A guaranteed payment of £5 a week. A payment proportionate to the weekly wage to men ahsent th rough no fanlt of their own for not more than one day a week, A review of the position of R grade workers to determine. their eligibility for the minimum weekly payment. • Any general increase granted by the Arbitration Court to appfy also to watersiders. Saturday engagements to be announced before the elose of normal work on Fridays exeept in an emergency. * The Government to speed up the revision of accommodation and ameniti.es for watersiders. A half-day's annual holiday for each eleven or fraetion of eleven days' work instead of 14 as previously. "Under the Minister 's agreement the waterside worker has received benefits of permanent employment while still retaining hjs high casual rate of pay and also eonditions whieh go with easual work," said Captain Holm.