COAL DISPUTE ENDED

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 134, 2 March 1920, Page 8

COAL DISPUTE ENDED

MINERS ENDORSE AGREEMENT

DETAILS OF NEW CONDITIONS FIFTY PERXSENT. ADVANCE ON i PRE-WAR RATES I The agreement, framed bv the conference which considered the coal disputo has been endorsed by trie -raining companies and the miners' unions, and will become operative at,once. It was maae available for publication yesterday. Tho conference, it will be remembered, was called by the Primo Minister, after tho dispute had been in progress tor more than six months, and after nrlmr attempts at-settlement had failed. Mr. Masscy sat as chairman.

TheV agreement is" national in its scope, but makes provision for the varying conditions in the New Zealand coal mines. It recognises the principle of the minimum wage for contract workers who are working in bad places, and it increases wages by 50 per cent, on pre-war rates in. the case,of contract workers and by GO per cent, on pre-war rates in the case of wages hands. The miners, under the agreements that are now being replaced, were receiving an ndviinfi! of ,10 per cent, on pre-war rates; It was stated at the original conference in Wellington last August, on behalf of the mine owners, that the increases domanded by the men amounted' to an advance of 65 per cent, on pre-war rates, as against the 30 per cent, advance then being paid. The increase now granted to contract men, that is, to the men who actually hew the coal, is- a 50 peicent, advance on pre-war ratios, or a net gain of 20 per cent, over the existing rates.

The details of tho new agreement are as follow:— 1. The following clauses shall be adopted as a national agreement between the parties. 2. Except where otherwise specified, the terms and conditions of this agree, ment shall bo embodied in all local agreements between'members of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners' Association and unions affiliated with the New Zealand Coal. Gold, Shale. _ Quarry, and Tunnel Worker l ' Federation.

■.Jt. All ntlmr terms and conditions to 1)6 settled he'ween the individual companies and the respective unions, nnd such terms "f settlement to be registered as industrial. agreeemnts 'under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, ' Minimum Wajp. 1. Miners working on tonnage ra'es who wall be unable, through no fault of their own," to earn an average of 12». per shift for each fortnightly period, shall be paid such an amount as pay be necessary to bring up their earnings to 6uch an average. In the event of a dispute arising u connection with this clause, the same shall be decided between the manager ami the local union. Wet Places, 2, The conditions regardful: work in wet places and nnymput H>o™for to rc» main as provided in existing agreements at each mine. A wet place shall mean a place where a worker has to wjrk in more than three inches of water, or when a miner is wet through water, dripping upon him from the roof. Should any difference arise as to what constitutes a vet place, the same shall be decided by the manager of the mine and the clipcls appointed by the union. Should they fail to agreo they shall appoint an umpire, whose decision shall be final and binding on both sides.

Double and Back Shift Places. 3. Twopence (2d.) per ton in addition to the ordinary hewing rates shall he paid for two shift places, i.e., where the day shift is followed by an afternoon shift,' and 'the men work in the 6ame faces. The sanio extra rate of twopenco per ton shall also be paid to miners working on the back shift, although such places are not double shifted. In double shift places Is. Gd. per yard extra yard r age shall bo paid.' Day wages men working on afternoon and night shifjt; (dog watch) to be paid 6d. per shift altove the ratos paid to them on day shift. Dog Watch. i. Wot more than -six pairs of miners shall be employed on the third shift, iiifd then only for development work, except in cases of emergency, when the management shall have the undisputed right to work the number of places required to cope witli such cases of omergency. \ A case of emergency shall mean nny unforeseen circumstance which may impede or interfere with the working operations of any section of the mine. Threepence (3d.) 'per ton above ordinary agreement rates shall be paid to miners working in three-shift places.

Timbering; 5. Miners shall securely timber their •working places, and shall maintain nil such timbering for a distance of .12 foet ■ back from the face in solid workings. When', required to put in sets,' tho following rates of payment shall bo made:— Sets (ordinary), 3s. Gd.; sets (special), over Bin, in diameter in middle, 55.; close lathing—skin for skin—extra, Is.; Minding—extra, 2s. This clause to apply to West Coast mines only. Splits Through Pillars. C. When miners are required to drive 'hard width, through pillars, solid tonnage* rales shall he paid, and when required to drive narrow any width up to VI feet solid yardage and tonnage rates shall be paid. This clause to apply to West Coast mines only. Dirt Seals, 7. In any height of place up to 5 feet, if stoue in,coal or on top of coal which cannot be' kept up, iff be paid for at the rate of one penny per ton per inch for the first two inches, and one halfpenny per ton per inch for every additional inch, and all places where coal is above sft. high the stone to be paid for at one halfpenny per ton per inch. Payment on account of stone is made as remuneration for picking it from the coal. Places to be measured one foot from each rib, and in the centro, thickness of stone to bo deducted from measurement of coal.

(Should any difficulty arise in connection with this clause, the siwiio shall be decided between the manager and eliecl; inspectors. This clause only to apply to mines where inch measurement is paid. This clause to apply to West Coast aiines only.

Laying, of Rails. 8. All rails to be laid by the company. Short rails to be provided by the company for each place. Tools and Litjht, 9. All tools and light required foi use in the mine to, bo supplied by tho company at cost price. Supply of Explosives to Miners. 10. During the term of this agreement, the 1 companies undertake to supply miners with explosives at tho prices at present being charged by tho respective companies. Trucking. 11. (a) All trucking to bo done by (he company. The miner to tako the empty from the_tip-up to the face. The tip-up to be as near the face as possible, and shall not exceed 30 feot. (b) The miner shall run the face jig for a distance, not exceeding 22 yards except in ■ t' ic case "f Blackball mine, where the miner shall run the face jig to the first Hal sheet, and shall bo paid for so doing at tho rate set out in the current Blackball agreement. In mines wJiere there is at present no jigging done by the mind's this clause shall not apply. (c) In iso'iatcd places, where it is not possible to employ moro than one pair of miners, the management and local union may agree upon a special rate for trucking in samo. (d) Nothing in the above clauses ehall prevent ony company from having its trucking done by contract. , (o) 'Christie Brothers', Taratu, Night-

ca.Dß„Waromii, and Jubilee mines in the South Island shall be exempt from this national agreement so far as trucking by miners is concerned, but the executive of the Coul Mine Owners' Association is requested to use its influence with the owners of tlio aforementioned mines in order in this respect to bring them into lino with the other coal mines throughout New Zealand. / Rates of Pay. 12. Employees working on piecework to bo\grantcd an increase in wages of 50 per cent, on ( the pre-war rates paid at the respective- mines. Employees working on day wages to be granted an increase of (ill per cent, on the lire-war rates paid at the respective mines. ' The pre-war rate of day wages for truckers to be deemed to be:— For West Coast mines: The rates set out in the agreements at tho respective mines. ... „,, For mines in the northern district: The rate to bo 10s. fid. per day. ' _ For mines in the southern'district: The rate to be, for inexperienced truckers for the first It days, ills. • day; for experienced trackers, 10s. .. iier day. It is an express condition tliat the above bonuses are granted today and-piece-workers upon pre-war rates except in the ease of shiftmen, who shall be paid a flat rate (without bonus) of 18s, per shift; and that neither tho rates of pay nor tho bonuses shall be altered or amended during tho term of this agreement - , \ , ,J All rates of pay carrying bonus shall be converted into flat rates. In calculating the flat rates, the rates for day wages men shall*, be taken to the nearest penny and tonnage rates to tho nearest. farthing. Hours of Work. 13. The hours of work to remain as provided for in existing agreements at each mine. Sundays and Holidays. 14. Christmas and New Year Holidays: From December 24 to January i, inclusive. , Easter holidays: As per existing agreements. • v ' Other holidays: Aa per existing agreements. If any agreement holiday falls on a Sunday or pay Saturday another day shall be substituted therefor by agreement between tho management and the union,. ' ; Men employed on work regularly done on Sundays shall bo paid at the rate of time and a half. ** For all other, work on Sundays and, agreement holidays double time shall be paid. Overtime. , 15. Overtime shall be paid for at tho rate of time and n half for the first three hours and double-time thereafter. Supply of Drinking Water. 1G The companies shall provido drinking water at suitable places as closely adjacent to the workings in each section of the mine as reasonably practicable, Injured Workers. 17. In the case of any accident occurring in the mine and the injured nian having to be carried out, the deputies shall select the necessary meii required and such men shall bo paid for tle time lost. Fatal Accidents. 18. In theyevent of a fatal accident occurring in or- about the mine, it shall be lawful for the workers at the mino where tle accident occurs to cento, work for tio remainder the day on which tho s lid accident occurs, provided it shall bo lawful for oil the company's workers to cease work for one full clay for tho purpose of attending tho funeral of the decpased worker, but not further or otherwise.

Preference. 19. In all cases where the company is starting new hands during the term of tjhis agreement it shall be the duty of the company to inform any such worker tihat the work, is being carried on undpr nln indnstri.il' agreement and that such worker is required within Id days to became a member of the union and remain such member, subject, however, to the condition that the rules of the union are such as to' permit any worker of sober habits and good character to become a member of the union without I allot or other election upon payment df an entrance feo. not ss. and that subsequent contributions, whether voekly or not, shall.not exceed 9<l. per i -eck. This agreement shall not apply h the officials of the company, including ccputies and underviowcrs. Dispute's Committees, 20. (a) Any disputo which cannot bo settled by the executive of tho union and flio management of tho particular mine concerned shall bo immediately roferred to the District' Disputes Committee, (b) Tho District Disputes Committea i/hall consist of ithree representatives ippointed by each side, and shall deal with any matter which has not been fettled by the means provided in clause (i) hereof. Failing settlement of any (isputo by the District Disputes Conii littee, it shall bo referral forthwith to (he National Disputes Committee.

(c) The National Disputes Committea fihall consist of three renresentativ&s appointed by tho coal mine owjiers and three ...representatives appointed by the Now Zealand Miners' Federation, and i!hall deal with; such matters as are leferred to it by District Disputes Comnitlees..

(d) Either party shall have tho right to appeal to the National Disputes Coinlliittoe from the decision of any District Disputes Committee. I (e) Tho decision of the National Disunites .Committee shalf bo final and binding on all parties to'any dispute. 1 (f) Tho District or National Disputes (Committees may, if they consider necessary appoint a chairman, and in tho event of. both sides agreeing to refer the dispute to him for settlement, his decision shall be final and binding on both parties It is agreed by both parties to tho above proposals that no strike, lock-out, '/go-slow," or unnecessary stoppage of work shall take place in mine until Ihe matter or matters in dispute have been dealt with as provided for above, and that, any decision of tho National Disputes Committee shall bo loyally accepted by all concerned. ' It is also agreed tliat _ nothim? in .jny of the above provisions shall bo so construed as to in any way interlero with or curtail the rights of coal mine managers or officials in their full And proper control of the working of the. coal mines, nor shall anything be done to interfere with the recognised functions of local unions. '

1 The above conditions shall rpinnin in Operation for twelve months from the ratification thereof by all parties, and :nav thereafter bo reviewed and dealt 'ritli by the said pnrties as may bo decided upon. Interpretation, 21. Should any dispute arise at any colliery as to the meaning and intention of :my matter affected by this agreement, :hc intention of the respective parties Khali as far as possible be determined by reference to the official report of tho iirocecdings. Date and Duration of Agreement, 22. This national agreement to como into operation from the commencement Jif the first foi+nifrbtly pay folliwnip H>" completion of the agreement, which shall 'ako place immediately upon tho federation notifying tho association that their uffilinted unions have accepted this agreement. . , This agreement shall remain m forco 'or ono year from the date on which t comes into operation, or until suporBiKlcd by another agreement,