MINE WORKERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1658, 27 January 1913, Page 6

MINE WORKERS.

OHINEMURI AGREEMENT. I INCREASES IN WAGES. PREFERENCE AND STRIKE CLAUSES. (By Telegraph.—Press Aceociatlon.) Waihi, January 25. The conference between tho mine owners and the Ohinemuri. Mines and Batteries Employees lias concluded and a satisfactory industrial agreement has been reached. Although'the whole of the demands were not conceded, the men have got from 50 to 75 per cent of the advance asked for in wages in various, departments, and with the exception of some few eniall local bodies the minimum wago fixed is tho highest in the Dominion. Surface workers get.'a minimum of Bs. 9d. per shift (formerly Bs.), and underground workers 10s. •(formerly 95.).

Walhi, January 20. An industrial agreement has been,.arrived. at between the Ohinemuri Mines and Batteries Employees' Union and the Waihi District Mine Owners, and will extend over a period of three years as from February 2, 1913. In all the lower classes workers; have been granted practically 75 per cent of the advance' asked for in wages and in the higher , positions ■an average •• 50 per'cent, and in sotae cases more. The clauses relating to hours of labour provide for 48 hours, for men in batteries and tailing, plants (crib time inclusive), 45 hours for surface labourers (exclusive of crib time), and for other workers 40 hours day and afternoon shifts, and 47 hours nightshirts (crib time inclusive). Wages:—Miners working in drives or stopes, 9s. 6d.; working in drives or stop.es with machines, 10s.; working in rises or winzes, 10s.; working in rises of' winze's with machines, 10s. GdJ; shaftmen, with machine or hand steel, lis. 3d.; chambermen (with id. per shift extra for oilskin money in wet shafts), 9s. 6d.; braoemen, 95..; mullocker's and truckers (underground), fls. fld.; mullockers and ■truckers (on surface), Bs. 9d.; pumpmen and pitmen in shafts, 10s. 6d.; tool sharpeners, 9s. 6d.; carpenters, 10s. 3d.; timbermen v.Csurface .or underground), 9s. 6d.; Stamper hands' assistants, 95.; amalgamators,. 10s.'; stone-breaker men' feeding crusher, 9s. 9d.; stone : breakers' labouiers, Bs. 9d.; truckers in batteries, Bs. 9d. ; battery' repairers, 9s. 3d.; battery repairers' assistants, Bs. 9d.; cyanide men working in .wet: batteries, 95.; presstaen or pressmen working crane, 95.; pressmen's I labourers, Bs. fld.; men attending sands or. j settlers; 9s;; concentrates treatment plant, ■ man in charge, 9s. 6d.; concentrates treatment plant, assistants, 95.; vannerinen, 9s. 3d.; vannermen's assistants, Bs. 9d.; tubo mill, man in charge, 9s. 3d.; tube mill assistants, Bs. 9d. Foundry labourers shall receive a' minimum wage of Bs. 9d. plus 3d. per day, or per shift, in con-. sidSration of the fact that they work 47 hours per week instead of 45 hours. Menslacking lime, 9s. 3d.; surface ftnd general labourers, Bs. 9d.; blaoksmith's strikers, Bs.' 9d.; greasers, Bs. 9d.; watchmon, Bs. 9d.; sluioers, Bs. 9d. Not less .than \ Bs. 9d.. per. day tfr shift shall ,bo paid .to any , classes of labourer employed by the companies. This applies to adults only. Wages for youths uhder 17 years of age, 4s. per day.or shift; from 17 to 18, 55.; from 18 to 19, os.;,from 19, to 20, 75.; over 20 years, the'minimum wages hereinMore- provided for.' ; Workmen, shift bosses, and foremea aro excepted from the .provisions of tile agreement. Overtime is. to bo paid at the rate of time and a quarter and time and a half when men aro called,out between midnight and starting-time the samo day, and for Sunday work time and a half. Should any matter arising out of this agreement be in-dispute during the term of the industrial agreement, and not herein provided for, such matter shrill bo referred to the manager and the president of the union, with a view to coming to, terms,-or, in they cannot come to an agreement, the matter shall be referred to tho Conciliation Commissioner of the, district, whose , decision shall be final. ' . '

Preference clauses are framed to pro-' tect closely the interests of both parties, and, inter alia, provide that: (1) If any cotopanv hereafter, engages any .worker who is not a member of the union, and who within a week after his engagement does not become and remain a member of-, tile union, tho company shall dismiss such worker if requested to do so by the. union, provided that thero are members of the union equally qualified and ready and willing to undertake tho work required, to be done.. (?) Further, any company shall, when requested by. tho union to do so,' take into consideration the advisability of dismissing any worker employed by that company. On the question of strikes, and lockouts, it is stipulated that the union shall do all. in its power to prevent a strike, by any of. the workers affected by this agreement, and if any strike 6hall occur in which any members of the union shall take part, such strike shall bo prima faoie evidence that the union has committed a brdach of its duty hereinunder. The union also covenants to refuse to recognise or to bo concerned in any strike until a seoret ballot of all tho financial members has been taken, and the consent obtained of two-thirds of tho members, and -undertakes to pay a substantial penalty should be conditions not be adhered to. The; companies, on their part, undertake and; agree that they will not unnecessarily or unreasonably cease work, but will ' use their best endeavours to keep the workers fully employed. They also agree • that should any company or companies esuspend or . discontinue work under circumstances which shall amount' in law to a lockout, such • company or companies shall pay a substantial default.