FAIR PLAY ON WHARF.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1989, 20 February 1914, Page 8

FAIR PLAY ON WHARF.

EMPLOYERS MOVING.

TQ SAFEGUARD LOYAL MEN

TRIBUNAL SET UP.

ADMONITION TO FOREMEN

As f the outcome of several rccont meetings of shipowners in Wellington, a method has been adopted by which priority of employment may be assured to those waterside workers who joined the union, on or before December 8. A committee of three —one representing the Wellington Harbour Board, one representing other employers of waterside labour, and an independent chairman —has been Set up. The. personnel of the committee is as follows:-—Mr. W. p. Foster, (chairman), Captain Evans (representing other employers), and Mr. It. Fletcher (chairman-of' the Wellington Harbour Board). Arrangements have been made to bring the scheme into operation at an early date, which will be publicly notified.

The Loyal Men's Stand-by. The committee will act t>.s a court of reference to deal with disputes between the labour foramen and the workers. They will also deal with complaints regarding intimidation and breaches of the promise given that those men who joined the union on or before December 8 should have priority of employment. Instructions will bo issued to all foremen making it.imperative for them to carry out the. spirit as well as the letter of the arrangement. The foremen are to be notified that they will be held/responsible for any failure to do so.. The committee also will tabulate from day to day the amount of employment and the wages given to each class of. labour. . . .

"Wanted—"A Complete Change of Method." Some important motions will come up for discussion at tho monthly meeting of the. Wellington. Harbour Board on Wednesday, February 25. These havo referenco to the recent happenings in connection with tho employment of labour on the wharves. The notices of motion are as follow:— ' ■;, MrTiCohen is to move: ."That the recept happenings in connection with waterside labour, together with\the apparent unrest still existing, renders necessary a complote change of method and system in the board's' working of tho port of Wellington. With the'view of establishing a better state of things, and removing, for the greater part, those factors which make for f)he unontisfactory conditions which are alleged now to exist, the board take into consideration the following suggestions: . "(a) That, a sub-committee be set up. to go into the question of creating a permanent body of watersido ; ■ labourers.' *;' ■ ._ "(b) That such body shall he limited to such number • as represents the average daily requirements of . the board. •''■,:. „ ."(c) That the workers shall be guaranteed a reasonable minimum wage per week, but shalLbe available -for all;' or" any, such work on Htho wharves or ships as the board • may from time to time "direct. But, : notwithstading the minimum wage, but. not in addition thereto, the workers are te.be paid such sum'per hour,as is 'in 1 vogue from- time to time for the number of hours worked.

"(d) That the permanent workers, when constituted, will-.' be granted - the privilege of a ,superannuation , scheme based upon proper actuarial . '■" ealculatipns, and permanence of employment during good behaviour* and efficiency, and subject to the right ■ .of appeal, as is now the case with ■ the board's permanent employees." Mr. Jones is to move: "That labour foremen be instructed that all members of the.Waterside Workers' Union who joined before December 9 last are ontitled to prefe'renc, if suitable for the work,' even though they diQ not actually work for. the board before that date.