CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1924, Page 4

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

■SAWMILLS AWARD. A initial agreement was readied by the Conciliation Council, which, under the presidency of Air AN. Newton, Coudlialion Commissioner, sat lit (.levmoutli and dealt with the application of the Westland Timber and Sawmill Employees’ Industrial Union ol \\oiket.s for a new award. The wages clauses were relorred entirely to the („i'i tof Aibitration which will sit at Greymoiith shortly. The assessors were: For the employe is, Alessrs J. A\ . Cnllwell, A\ . .1. Butler, and J. Gilbert, with AH B. L. Hammond as agent: and lor Lite cm plovers Messrs F. L- I urley, secretary of the Union, D. Hillier and A. Galbraith.

The chief feature of the agreement on the conditions clauses is that the Union relented from its adamant stand on the -18-hours a week question. This was a matter of principle with the employers, and in exchange for the Union’s agreement oil this point, the employers conceded .some or the men's other demands in the conditions clauses. May Day as a holiday was rejected, but it was decided that the dav of the Union’s annual meeting should lie a holiday provided that bv mutual agreement between tbe Union and the employers another day or days might lie substituted for the King’s Birthday or Labour Day. Work done on New Years’ Day, Christmas Day. Sundays, or the annual meeting day is to lie ] aid for at double ihe ordinary rates, and where an employer requites employees to work on Good Friday. Easter Monday. Labour Day or the Sovereign’s Birthday or 'l.aimin' Day, time and a-linlf rates shall be paid for work done on the days observed as holidays, and ordiit arv rates p,> r the days in respect of which the substitution has been made. Should a inability of the workers decide by ballot that any holiday fdiall not lie observed as a holiday such day or davs shall lie deemed ordinary votk. in-' days and paid for at tbe rate of time ami a ball'. The Union must give 21 days’ notice of the date of the annual meeting hy advertisement in the Greymoiith newspapers.

Other concessions obtained by the workers include lirst aid outfits with streteher. to he in charge of winc-li-men. tutuporaiy shelter,-, tor hu>h wot kel' ill 'till lime, troteetion lot winch drivers in wet weilther. showc I- ,th- j.nd facilities for drying elulliis •it sncli mills as are ai ratified hy the Disputes Commiuee. fiond coiis|iieiions clocks ti-ihle to worker-, and the | revision of a regulation that no biishlinili shall I • re<|liiied to work heyond rnllinfi ilislance of another worker, except in eases where it is not reasonably practical lc to dairy out iliis regulnt ion.

In regard to travelling time, underrate workers, jirefercnce, paymenl of wanes, termination of employment and house rent, the old award conditions were aereed to. Slabs other than those used for firewood are to Ip sup] lied to workers for their own household use, free ot cnsi. at the mill The award is to expire on Dot ember fllsl. 1025. After hath sides had expressed their thanks to the Commissioner. Air Newton congratulated the assessors on the progress that had been made, and the Council concluded its sittings.