THE COAL MINERS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1921, Page 4

THE COAL MINERS

NEW DEMANDS

WELLINGTON, Fob. 18

Tho current agreement between the Mine Owners’ Association and the Miners’ Federation will expire on February 28, after being in operation twelve months. In conjunction with the Australian Miners’ Federation, with which the New Zealand Federation is affiliated, new demands have been prepared. The chief features of the new proposals are as follow: Six hour day (bank to bank). Five days per week. Abolition of contract system. Fortnight's holiday on lull pay at end of each year. Minimum weekly wage £(>. Full wages as compensation for lost time owing to occupational disease or accidents. Employers to provide tools, light and explosives free. Instalment of modern safety appliances. Proper sanitary arrangements. Abolition of afternoon shift. Effective voices in executive control of industry. Overtime—Double rates to he paid for all week-day overtime, treble rates for all Sunday and holiday work. The demands provide that the minimum wage for off-hand labour (eighteen years and over) shall he £1 per shift. For miners hewing coal on contract a minimum rate of £1 5s per shift is asked, and for miners working in stone the minimum requested is £1 7s (id per .shift. Other provisions of the claim are as follow: Machine men (coal) £1 5s per shift; wheelers £1 2s lid per shift; machine coal contract rates (shooter and filler) 33 1-3 per cent increase jmaohine cutters 25 per cent increase; hoys and youths, day rates, 33 1-3 per cent increase; all other classes of labour 27) per cent increase.

Where extra payment is now being made the special consideration margin now paid shall lie maintained in the district.

The Miners’ Federation asks that so far as possible any award or agreement based upon the foregoing claims shall be retrospective and operate as from February 28, 1921. Before the current agreement was made the Federation asked for the abolition <«f the contract system, but the owners would not agree. In that connection, therefore, the demand has been renewed.

Tho claim for a six-hour day, hank to -bank, is not a new claim, but it is one which the owners definitely refused to concede twelve mouths ago. The demands have not yet been considered by the Mine Owners’ Association.