THE ENGINEERS' DIFPICULTY.

Manawatu Herald, 7 December 1897, Page 2

THE ENGINEERS' DIFPICULTY.

The Engineers* Conference has adjourned until December 14th to enable the trades union to ballot upon the decisions arrived at. The outcome of the Conference is that the employers adhere at all points to the original position they took up. They demand the right to regulate, individually, piecework and overtime. They require the workmen to accept; the wages fixed according to their ability, and maintain

the right to employ an unlimited number of apprentices. They are willing to negotiate trades disputes with the Union officials, centrally or locally, after individual negotiations have failed, provided that pending discussion of disputes work is not stopped. The employers refuse (£e unionists' demand for a 48 hours' week, chiefly on the ground of increasing foreign trade competition. The workmen on their part are willing to concede the employers' right to employ non-unionists, but object to the methods of regulating piecework and overtime. They demand the right to bargain for wages collectively and the fixing of the standard rate. With regard to the employment of apprentices, they require the ratio to be oue apprentice to every three journeymen, and they insist on their demand for 48 hours.

In face of the firm stand taken on both sides, the outlook, so far as the Conference resulting in a settlement of the difficulty is concerned, is considered doubtful.