CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 130, 19 February 1918, Page 3

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

ENGINE-DRIVERS' DISPUTE. The Conciliation Court sat yesterday to hear the dispute between the Wellington Stationary; Traction, and Locomotive Engine-Drivers' and thoir Assistants' Industrial Union and the employers, among whom were included numerous dairy companies, flaxmills, sawmills, etc., in the Wellington, Hawke's Hay, Poverty Bay, Pnhnerston North, Wanganui districts.

The assessors for tho employers were Messrs. AV. Cable, j. Harlen, and J. J. Clark, with Mr. W. A. Grenfell as agent, and for the employees Messrs. T. J. Cain (Auckland),-J. O'Brien, and J. Read. Mr. J. Newton, Conciliation Commissioner, presided. In the statement of claim the hours w;ero fixed at forty-six per week, exclusive of tho time necessary for getting up steam —each employer to arrange such hours as may suit him, which may be worked in shifts day or night. _ Owners of traction-engines engaged in agricultural work may contract with their men for'payment by tonnage or piecework rates, irrespective of the hours worked. Time and a half to bo paid fijr work done on Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Easter Monday, Labour Day, and King's Birthday, and double rates for Christmas Day, (jood Friday, or Sunday. Wages: Stationary engine-drivers, first-class certificate 14s. per day, second-class certificate 12s. Gtl. per day; drivers with no certificates, 125.; firemen and greasers, 125., 7s. extra per week to be paid for getting up .steam or banking tires, workers engaged in dirty work, such as cleaning flues, to be paid 2s. Gd. per hour. Provision is made for underrate, wages, for the employment of youths. The union also demands preference of employment, and the award is to bo in force for two years.

With regard to the claims generally, Mr. .Grenfell said there were Hie usual demands for reduction of hours and incioase of wages. were employed in a wideVange of industries, and if the engine-drivers' hours were reduced it would be a ease of the tail wagging the dog. Mr. Ilead said that most industries in the city were now working 44 to 46 hours a week, and there was no reason why engine-drivers should have longer hours. He suggested that the enginedrivers should lie regulated accoiding to the time worked in tho factory.

The Court sat all day, and made'comparatively little progress. ,