THE GAS STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 54, 27 November 1917, Page 7

THE GAS STRIKE

MATTERS IN DISPUTE

BEFORE CONCILIATION

A sitting of thj Conciliation Council was held yesterday to consider matters which were in dispute at the time of tho gas strike in Wellington. Sir. W. H. Hagger presided, and the assessors were: Messrs. A. Dougall, T. Inkerton, and J- Ramsden (for the Wellington Gas Company), and Messrs. T. Moss, J. Harris, and J. Roberts (for the employees' union). Mr. W. A. Grenfell appeared as agent for the company, and Mr. W. Hannah as agent for tho union. The first question discussed was that of wages. The union asked that tho wages should be:—Leading stokers, 15s"; ordinary stokers, 14s. 6d.; fire cleaners, etc., 14s. 6d. Tho company proposed that the wages should bo:— Stokers, lis. 6d.; fire cleaners, etc., lis. 2d., with war bonuses of one shilliucr per shift. On behalf of the union, Mr. Roberta said that tho increases were sought because of the increased cost of living, the strain of the work on the men, and the ability of the company, which had raised the price of gas, to pay. For the company, it was urged by Mr. Dougall that the company should be expected only to act according to the award, and also tliat the conditions that were considered satisfactory in Auckland should bo considered satisfactory here. Mr. Roberts said that the conditions in Wellington were different from those in Auckland. Mr. Dougall said that tho Wellington Company was offering higher wages than' were stipulated in the Auckland award. The question of the number of men to be employed was considered next, but no agreement was arrived at. _ | As to the hours of work, the union proposed that six shifts of eight hours should constitute a week's work. The company wanted provision for seven shifts, if there were not sufficient men available for six. . The union representative spoke to the effect that it was highly detrimental to the health of the men to work for seven days at such employment. For Sunday work, there should be extra pay. Tho parties differed also on tho matter of holidays. The union asked tliat holidays should be Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Anniversary Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Picuie Day, and Sovereign's Birthday, and that there should be double rates of pay for work done on these davs; also that every man should get fourteon days' holiday annually. The company proposed that the men should get ten days' holiday annually, and no other holidays. Mr. Roberts said tliat for twenty years tho company had given double pay for holiday work. Mr. Grenfell said that the company objected to this Seing made compulsory, but because there was an objection it did not follow that tlie double payment would be cancelled. On none of the points mentioned were agreements arrived at, and before the council dispersed the commissioner mado proposals which ho asked both sides to consider. The parties agreed to give the proposals their consideration, and to enable tbemto do so the council was adjourned until 10.30 on the morning of December 20.