COACH WORKERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1856, 16 September 1913, Page 4

COACH WORKERS.

PROVISIONAL AGREEMENT. During the hearing of tho Wellington coach workers' case before the Conciliation Council yesterday, Mr. W. 11. Morton, acting 011 behalf'of the City Council, made Application for exemption from the provisions of the award for tho employees in the tramway sheds. Mr. P. Halley presided. Tho employers' assessors were Messrs. T. A. Munt, E.. T. Crawley, and J. Bett. The union's assessors wero Jlessrs. C. Bates, C. Carter, and W. P. Wright. Mr. A. C. Noot appeared for tho union, and Mr.' W. A. Grenfell for the employers. Mr. Morton stated that eight of the men employed by the corporation were members of the Carpenters' and Joiners' Union and also of tho Tramway Union. If they were "brought under tho coach workers' award they would bo compelled either to join a third union or forfeit benefits which they' enjoyed by virtue of connection with the Carpenters' Union.

Mr. Noot\ said that the. men wore working as coachbuilders.

Mr. Hallcy asked whether there was any question as to hours or wages. Mr. Morton replied that there was to the extent that, in such work as tho tramways, when a number of now awards were being made, they had a chaotic state of affairs, owing to the lack of co-ordination of tho various provisions. ' The City Council was quite prepared to pay the rates of wages fixed as between private employers and the union. Tlicy did not wish to drag a man back to work forty-eight hours a week; but they wanted uniformity; not 41 hours, 4o hours, and 48 hours, as wages hours in the same shop. He. also thought that leading hands should not be given a special rate by tho award. Such men were generally chosen as being more skilful than tho rest, but they could not oxerciso authority, as they were members of the union. Mr. Grenfel: They can't scire two masters. Mr. Morton remarked that if a leading hand did exercise authority he was taken to task at the first meeting of tho union. 'Mr. Noot retorted that that was not the position at all. Mr. Morton: PardoiiJme, it is! i Mr. Morton added • (in regard to hours) that the corporation could not agree to 41 hours per week, unless that became a general practice throughout the trade. \ The union's assessors then announced that carpenters and joiners in tho corporation's employment, and members of the Carpenters' Union, would not be bound to belong to tho Coach Workers' Union, but, painters on coach work would be reguired to do so. Smiths, bound by the engineers' award) would be similarly exempted.

The council then went into committee to discuss the proposals. After the conference the Commissioner announced that a provisional agreement on all paints had been arrived at, hut until the country districts had approved it, the now proposals would not be made public.

The dispute will be further heard by sittings of the Conciliation Council as follows:—At Wanganui, September 17; at Palinerston North, September If; at Napier, September L' 2; at Jlastcrton, September 2-1.