SHIPS' OFFICERS TO RESIGN

Chronicle (Levin), 2 April 1947, Page 7

SHIPS' OFFICERS TO RESIGN

— Press Assoeiatioji

DISiSATISFACTION AT NO RISE IN WAGES

By Telearajoti-

WELLINGTON, April 1. Hundreds of masters and oincers of New Zealand ships are now writing out their resignations in protest at the terms of tUe new awards governiilg pay and eonditions issued today by the Arbitration Court. These resignations will be assembled by the New Zealand' Merchant Service Guild and presented to the empioyers in about a week, to take effect one month frojn. that date. Meetings of masters and oliicers, held simultaneously tonight in Wellington and Auckland, unanimously rejected the new awards. The meeting in Wellington delayed the departure of the ferry steamers and several coastal ves- - sels until 9 p.m. After the meetiug in Wellington, Captain W. R. Williams, secretary oi the New Zealand Merchant Service Guild, in a statement, said that the masters and oliicers had waited 14. months since the filing of their claims and now had received thqir new awards only to find the wage rates were un.changed from 1939, There was ample evidence that seamen,- cooks, stewards and carpenters had received far better consideration and that the position of the masters and oliicers had been undermined.

The masters and officers had a full sense of their great responsibilities, said Mr. Williams, but had restrained themselves from any immediate direct action. Many, howeyer, had for some time been leaving tlie New Zealand merchant service so that the staft shortage had become a grave probleni. , Furthermore, the Merchant and Navy Officers' Federation in London, in a circular letter, had warned officers who intended to settle in New Zealand oi the wage problems and difficulties here. One award is for masters and officers of the Union Steam Ship Company oi iNew Zealand Ltd. Ordinary hours oj duty in port are lixed as between 7 a.m and 5 p.m. with special provision foi unsafe ports or cases in which a vessej arrives and sails ths same day. Timo and a half with a minimum payment o! Is 3d per hour is lixed for the overtinu rate. Where an officer is required foi cargo work between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.. he shall be paid double time. Provision is also made for nine intervals of 24 hours each for each employee eacli '.month while the sliip is in port. Where a vessel sails on Sunday or a holiday, the master and officers shall be entitled to clairn an extra day's sea pay. The annual leave is lixed at 21 days for a master and 14 days for officers for eacli 12 months of service. In a memorandum the Court states that since July 1, 1942, a war-risk bonuihas been paid in addition to existing rates of wages. Menibers of the New Zealand mercantile -marble have also been paid a war-risk gratuitv since May 1, 1943: The Court considers thai extra pay is remuneration and states that it could not -therefore eonscient iouslv, ut 7the prequnt tinie, vary the ; rates" of wdges dli%stdy_ existing. . • J = ■ In a 4issenting-— epinion, Mr. A. L. Monteith/V'OT'Wrs' reprqsentative, said the rates ■$£ w^ges generally awarded were they.same^.as,; fliosp .existing oi> April 1, 4939;ismdf ithe employees 4mfl not receit:e4; 1the;Veiiefits of : incteases in- wiages ^r&aledito! othef workers. : He consiuered the war-risk bonus and gfatui|ty should not- -be taken into con Bidefation as it might linisli at any time. He was also- - not in agreement with the annual holidays granted. Another award, similar in most re spects to the Union Company award. has also been issued coucerning New Zealand ships' inasters and officers (coastal slvipping companies). The ma.ior diffierence is that, whenever possib'le, a period of 24 consecutive hours off duty once in every week shall be allowed each master and officer in his home port. It shall not be given on Sundav or a holiday. Medical benefits and eompensations for injuries arising out of Ihe course of employment are also fixed. The Court similarly an nounced that, because of the payment of the war-risk bonus and gratuitv, il could not conscientiouslv increase the rates of wages. Mr. Montcith dissented on the decision aud also regarding the annual holidays. The term of both awards is iimi'ted to six months.