WORK & WAGES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1741, 5 May 1913, Page 5

WORK & WAGES.

INCREASES GRANTED BY ADMIRALTY.

AT PORTSMOUTH DOCKYARD. By Teleuranh—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. May 4, 5.5 p.m.) London,' May 3. The "Daily Mail" states that tlio Admiralty lias decided to substantially increase the pay of the Portsmouth dockyard moil and also increase tlio establishment". .AN ADVANCE I'OK HIKERS. London, May 2. The Durham Conciliation Board has advanced tho minors' wages six and a quarter per centum, making the highest increaso since 1901. N.S.W. MINING TROUBLE. STILL A DEADLOCK. By ToleEraph—Press Association—OouyriiiM Sydney, May 3. A meeting of the Northern coalowners considered the Employees' l-'eclcration request for a conierenco to deaL. with, existing grievances. Though official information lias been withheld, it is understood it has been decided to adhere to tlio decision not to grant a conference whilo any of tho pits remain idle. Two mines, the Borehole and Lambton B, are now working. With reference to tho deputation of Southern and Northern coalminers and waterside workers to Cabinet Ministers, statements.have Keen published in tho press that threats wero 'made to precipitate a big strike. Mr. Carmiciiael, Minister for Labour, has published an official statement refuting tile storj, and showing that tho representatives of each union had declared against a strike, and had urged tho Government to take steps to bring tho contending parties together in order to secure a settlement. There had been no throats.

AT HOME. 20,000 WELSH MINERS IDLE. London, May 2. There are twenty thousand miners idle in various parts of South Wales, as a protest against the employment of nonunionists. Similar strikes olsowhero resulted in the bulk of tho non-unionists joining the union. . UNREST IN THE SHIPYARDS. London, May 2. Unrest among the shipyard workers is growing. Members of various unions fedcrated injtlie districts have been circularised, and asked to decide whether they will accept the masters' proposal to adjourn tho request for increased \vogcs : within three months, or notify that they will strike unless their demands aro conceded.

UNREST IN THE DOCKYARDS. ' THE MEN'S CASE. A strike, involving 31,000 men of all grades employed at tlio Government dockyards of Portsmouth, Devonport, and Chatham, is threatened unless tlie Admiralty grant a general increase in wages of ■something like Cs. per week (stilled the "Daily Mail" of March 12). Already 200 members of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers liavo refused to work overtime at Devonport; but the step is regarded as premature by a largo majority ol' the 14,500 workmen.

According to official information thoro never has been a, .striko at tho national dockyards, though for several years repeated petitions for improved conditions and higher wages linvo been sent by tho men to the Admiralty, only to meet with a curt refusal. Throe or four years ago a protest meeting was held outsido tho dock gates at Portsmouth, but tho Admiral}' promptly dismissed tho leaders and put a temporary stop to agitation. But within tho last fow months discontent has boon rapidly growing; tho various trade union officials declaro that their organisations' lmvo been strengthened by thousands of members, and striko threats are rife in the town.

Should a strika be doolared, tho 3000 established men in Portsmouth Dockyard will Ipso their pensions. Tho men receive their pensions at sixty years of age, tho amount of a ponsion being one-sixtieth of the wages for every year s service. Established men are usually chosen by foramen, and selection is dictated by seniority. .

In addition to tho established men, a steady and reliable supply of labour is maintained by tlio Admiralty bv means of a' system of gratuities to skilled workmen. _ Instead of being discharged wholi work is slack, these men are paid at reduced. fates, and in many eases put oil to labouring tasks. It is alleged that, tho Admiralty has never paid as high a rate of wages as prevails in the private yards, and this is tho main cause of tho men's discontent. Tljey point out that during the last fifteen years the price of necessaries of lifo have increased by about 30 per cent., while tho increase in the wages of dockyard men averages only about 3 per cent. Tho case, of the skilled hired men was stated by a fitter. "Everybody knows that tho shipbuilding trade is very brisk just now. Wo are working night and day hero at the docks. Wliy should I work for .£2 a week when 1 otin get ,C 3' hud a week in the North? What's tho 11=0 of me hanging 011 in the liopo of getting 011 the established listp The pension is little better than an old-age pension, and I would sooner havo a bird in the hand."

Whilo the shipwrights, engineers, fillers, and labourers linve their common grievance, the apprentices have a special complaint. In the dockyard there is n school which has turned out many of the famous naval constructors of modern (iiuos. "Tho sysletirof promotion is not, fair," sflid an arprcutico. "Two men miglil pass an examination, anil one be sent to lie n gentleman with a salary at construction work; the other, with maybe only two marks less, will probably havo to go to ordinary work at the bench. The bright young fellows with ambition seek work ,in tho private yards of the North."