H.B. RIVERS' BOARD WORKERS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 63, 7 December 1937, Page 6

H.B. RIVERS' BOARD WORKERS

New Agreement with Union INCREASED WAGES Negotiations, which kave been proceeding for some time for a new agreement as to wages and conditions covering the Hawke's Bay Rivers Board workers were completed yesterday, when a new agreement "was signed by representatives of the board and the Hawke's ay General Labourers' Union. The representatives were as follow : — Rivers Board: Messrs. O. Lassen, G. Rochfort and A. G. Pallot. , Labourers' Union: Messrs. H. Kay, J. B. Atkinson and B. Kale. The present award expires on December 14. Agreement was reached on a voluntary ' basis without having to refer to the Arbitration Court for settlement. The new agreement allows for a 40hour week; and, where a worker has completed three months' service he shall be paid a minimum weekly wage of £4 10/-. This completely eliminates the question of time lost through wet weather. Other rates of pay are as follow:— Labourers (under three mouths' service) : 2/4 an hour. Drain-layers : Ordinary, 2d an hour extra; dirty work, 3d an hour extra. Quarrymen: 12ft. from the ground, 2d an hour extra ; other quarrymen, ld an hour extraMen handling explosives : 2/7 an hour. Gangers and head fencers; 1/6 a day extra. • The following • holiday s are .-to he given and. paid for:— New Year's Day, Good Friday, Bast?'" Monday, Anzac Day, King's . Birthday, . Spring Show. Day, Labour Day, Christmas Day and Boxiiig Day, togetiier with a week's kojiday on full pay after 12 rnonths' service with the board, providing that, where a worker leaves or is dismissed before the completion of tlie 12 months, he shall receive and' be paid for a proportioriate holiday. A special clause dealing with travelling time was; agreed to which : allows for payment for over two miles and up to seven miles of 8d a day, while a distance of more tlian * seven miles • is to be paid for at ld a mile. a day additional to the ahove-mentioned rate. A new record for labourers' awards was ereated when it was agreed that the board allow for a, quarter of an hqur stoppage for morning tea, which shall be paid for as a. part of the norma!, day 's work. ■ . .

Special clauses were inserted covering the operation of the co-operative contract system on the rivor diversion scheme, which should allow for a better understanding as between'the men concerned and the board. The clauses are based on the present Public Works agreement. A wet-placo clause allows, where a worker is working in water two inclies or more in depth, that he shall be' paid | 2d an hour extra over and above the J rates specified for the work he is per- | forming, and, further, that1 tho board shall provide overalls or gum boots, or bgtb. " As the forthcoming Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on a Saturday the new agreement provides that where a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following working day is to he agreed upon as the recognised holidav.

The new agreement will become operative on December 15 for a pdriod of twelve months, A number of men who have been employed on the river diversion scheme works will benefit tliese coming holidays from" a week's extra holiday pay obtained by tli© union under the present award. "