Watersiders Get Interim Wage Rise

Chronicle (Levin), 10 February 1949, Page 2

Watersiders Get Interim Wage Rise

WELLINGTON, Feb. 9. An interim wage increase of ao hour for- waterside workers, to briug the hourly rate to 3a lOd, was determined by the Waterfront lndustry Authority today. An official anuouneement of the decision is expected tomorrow. The New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union stated its claim on Tuesday last to the authority for an increase of oue shilling an hour which would have brought the wage rate to 4s 8d. The authority, in announcing the interim increase, has stated that further consideration of the union 's application will be deferred until after the Court of ArbitTation has given its decision on the currcnt applications of the Eedcration of Labour and Employ crs Federation, for a standard wage pronouncement or, alternatively, untii the end of March if the Court 's decision is not available \>efore then. The authority has also granted an increase in the meal money rate from 2s 3d 'to 2s 6d. The union 's application was for 3s - The Waterfront lndustry Authority comprises Judge D. J. Dalglish (chairman), Messrs. K. A. Belford and T. S. Marchant (employers' representatives) and Messrs. H. Barnes and T. HilJ (union representatives). The employers' and union representatives failed to agree on the decision. Dissatisfaction Fifty trade union offiicals have sigued a statement originating within the Waterside Workers' Union, expressing dissatisfaction with the liandling of the wage policy by the national executive of the Federation of Labour. The statemcut also calls for an increase in social security benefits.