CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 132, 28 February 1920, Page 8

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

BUILDERS* AND GENERAL LABOURERS' DISPUTE

MAIN QUESTIONS UNSETTLED

The Conciliation Council sat on Thursday to hear the Wellington builders' and general labourers' dispute. The Commissioner (Mr. W. Newton) presided, nnd tho assessors were:—For" the union, Messrs. M. J. Renrdon, J. M. Campbell, and G. Faser; for tho employers, Messrs. W. A/ Grenfell, J. C. Blown, and A. M. Wilson.

The union claimed 2s. 3d. per "hour for labourer engaged on the actual construction of scaffolds, and 2s. per hour for those assisting in. tho erection of or demolishing of scaffolds on buildings. For tunnel work, tunnel men and timber men, /lie wage claimed was 2s. Gd. per hour. The rate claimed for Quarry work and for labourers working underground or employed at concrete work, pick and shovel work, sewer work, kerbing and channelling, laying and cleaning drains, nnd asphalt and tar work was 2s per hour The union's claims for wages for youths were:—Up to seventeen years of age, £1 7s. per week; up to eighteen, X'l 135.; up to nineteen, il 195.; and np to twenty, £2 5s The proportion of youths employed to bo not more than one to every five or fraction of tho first five men fully employed. All overtime, to be paid for at tho rate"of timo and a half tor the first three horn's, and donblo time thereafter. -Work done on Sunday, New Year's Day, and similar holidays, to bo paid for at double rates, except in tho case of general labourers, for whom was claimed double time for work dono on a .Sunday, .Good Friday or Christmas Day only, and time and a half on the other recognised holidays. The union demanded that, anv worker employed on country work alionld be conveyed by the employer to anil from such work free of charge, or that the employer should nay travelling expenses The union also demanded that workers employed on country work should receive an additional 3s. Gd. per day, in lieu of which the employer should find suitable- board and lodging for his worker at his own expense. A preference clause was included, in 'which was the following clause:-"Any employer when engaging any worker shall ascertain whether such worker is a member of dlic union and if not his engagement shall be subject to his becoming a member forthwith.

Rate of Pay the Main Question, ' Mr. Grenfell, at the Commissioner's suggestion, ran through the claims of the union, and stated"that tho rate of pay was the mam question in dispute. Ho was prepared to agree wife the general wordingoftheclause relating to waS not with the rates of pay. He would "Bree to overtime at tlie rate of Kmo to the additional 3s. Gd. per day dc mande, for country work H? maintained ;V „ S wns , not r, , Rht Hu thought that the employer should not have to supply the worker with his food. Mr ieardon «iid that tho labourer should be put on the same basis as the carpen or, and that there should be no distinction between them. Tho carpenter was receiving 3s. G.l. per day; why should the labourers have to torso ttis? Mr. Gienfell: Supposing" it was decided to harness the Hutl; Eivcr for hvdroelectric purposes, and the contract' wns given to a We hngton man. He would lave to have labourers out (here probably for months, rww, would it be right that ho should have to pny them 3s.'Gd. per day extra? Mr. Campbell pointed out. that tho employer could board them by building huts, tents, or shacks. No agreement was reached after prolonged discussion with regard to this clause. " ■

Mr. Grenfell also objected strongly to the rates claimed b-the union for .youths.. Instead of the rates claimed by the union, he suggested for youths up to seventeen years of age, 205.; up to eighteen, 255.; up to nineteen, SOs., and up to twenty, 355. Mr. Campbell said that those rates were ridiculous. He would rather «eo the whole clause deleted. Mr. Beardon: The Telegraph Department is offering boys of fourteen 25s per week. Do you think, then, that vou will get youths of 17 nf. 20s. per week' Mr. Grenfell sa -'d that that was just the point. Too many bovs were entering unskilled trades, and this was tho remedy.

Mr. Campbell paid that he agreed, and that the best thing then was to delete the clause 1 altogether. The Commissioner suggested 255., 305., 375. 6d., and '15s. per week respectively! and these rates were agreed to. The Preference Clause. J h- Grenfell took strong exception to the preference clause, And he and his assessors maintained their attitude. The other side was equally firm. Mr. Grenfell sa : d that Hie nrefercnee clause in the Arbitration CouiT'.s awards was the one which should hold here. It had worked very well. Mr. Campbell' took exception to Mr. GrenfeH'fl statement, and Mr. Rcardon supported him. He said that the award preference clause had caused endless friction. By the adoption of this new clause, friction' would bo removed. Mr. Grenfell remarked that it would spread to the country and other towns. Mr. Rcardon said that the clause was quite good enough for the country. Mr. Grenfell ment : oncd that this same preference clause, when it had come before the Arbitration Court once before, had been altered into tho old form.

In the afternoon the employers made an offer to the union, but the offer was rejected. Tho matters of wages and preference have yot to be settled.