NEW SEAMEN’S AWARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1924, Page 2

NEW SEAMEN’S AWARD.

SLIGHT WAGE IHSi

I lIV TELEGIIAfIl —l*l:lt CHESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON. May 30. The Hew Seamen’s and Firemen's Award was issued by the Arbitration Court to-day. The main features include a slight increase in wages, amounting to .'is 4d per month for all ratings; a new rating for second donkeymeii at £l6 16s 8:1 a month; and a number of alterations

affecting ships and working condi tiol IS. Clause I relating to a limited period nf unemployment, which in tlie expiring Award was restricted to certain specific cases, has been extended to cover 1 lie placing of a ship in commission for any period less than one month i'nr any reason.

In the Clauses relating to the hon-s of labour at sea and in port (I I to lot additional provisions have been inserted to clear tin a number of matters on which disagreement had arisen between the parties. The Ciause relating to night watches on Sunday and holiday watches in port has been recast. It provides or an increased rate for -Iwit and broken watches. The compensation to ho given for loss of the weekly half-day off in port lias been recast. It provides for an increased rate for short and broken watches. Tho coin pen.“at ion to he given for loss of the weekly hallday oil' in port lia.s been increased Infixing the rate at overtime rates, instead of nrdinry rates, with the right to accumulated half days for no jonger than six months, subject to a proviso that if a seaman determines his employment. and thus prevents accumulated leave being given, the emp : <y i r need only pay for half days not allowed tit ordinary rates, instead ol at overtime rates.

The Court renewed the Preference Slau.se. but provided therein it shall nob operate in respect of seamen employed between November Ist.. 1922

and January 22i;d.. 1923 during a period of industrial upheaval. A further Clause has been added relating to job-control. I Ids is ii* tv clause in New Zealand awards. Ihe new clause is as follows: — “The T’nion shall not. during the term of an award order, encourage, or

aid or abet any strike control by any of its members. Job control includes any attempt hy members of a union, or any of them, to enforce industrial conditions other than those prescribed or recognised by tlm Court, or hy the (shipping and Seamen’s Act, or any competent authority thereunder, either by refusing to offer for. or ac • pi. work oil any particular vessel or vends, or by refusing or failing lo carry out work on any particular vessel or vessels or by any method* other limit those provided hy the Industrial Conoilaitiim and Arbitration Act. or by the methods of ordinary negotiation.” The Court has attached the following memorandum to the Award:—•

“The making of this Award lias caused the members of the Court considerable thought and difficulty, and a great deal of time has been devoted to the preparation of some of the clauses. There were sham differences uf opinion, hut in order to prevent a deadlock arising, the members decided not to dissent from any of the clauses on which they were not ill agiecnu-nt. The Co m l was in doubt as to whether some special provisions should be made in the Clause re discharging, asked far certain steamers carrying two firemen on watch, without trimmers, but. iii the absence of definite evidence, decided to leave the Clause as it stood in the expired Award. The Court ac- ;

cordiugly recommends the parties to collier ill regrd to these vessels, and reserves leave them to apply to the Court to insert a special provision if thev are unable to agree. The Arbitration Court has also issued other new Awards affecting shipping. granting an increase ot 3s !d per month in wages all round for marine engineers (Union Company and coastal), and cook* and steamers (l n-. ion Company and coastal). The preference Clause is renewed in the Stewards’ Award. In the ease of the Marine Engineers an agreement had been reached at the Coneilitiou Council regarding most of the clauses.