BROKEN AGREEMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1169, 8 November 1913, Page 2

BROKEN AGREEMENT.

WHaT THE WORKERS’ CONDITIONS WERE.

MR SEMPLE’S COMMENT LAST YEAR.

Tbe main figuges of the national waterside agreement, broken by the local union, are: —

Ordinary time: Stevedores is sd, manures, etc., is 6d, coal is 6d, carrying coal as, trimming (intercolonial or coastal) is Bd, stowing (freezers) is gd, cool chambers is sd. Overtime to 10 p.m. ; Stevedores 2s 2d, manures, etc., as 3d : coal 2s 3d, carrying coal 3s, trimming (intercolonial or coastal) 2s Bd, stowing (freezers) 2s gd, cool chambers 2s 2d. Ten p.m. to 8 a.m.: Stevedores 2s 3d, manures, etc., 2s sd, coal 2s qd, carrying coal 3s, ttimmiug (intercolonial or coastal 2s gd, stowing (freezers) 2s nd, cool chambers 2s 3d.

Heading hands paid 3d per hour extra.

Mr Semple remarked to a Post reporter on the day when the agreement was signed that the workers’ delegates were “highly satisfied.” He declared that they trusted to the loyalty ot the signatories to the bond, which had been arrived at in practical fashion, and, it was expected, would be binding. . . . “It

is not likely,” added Mr Semple, “that the Federation of Labour Is going to sanction anything that savours of a breaking away from the bond. We intend to discountenance, at all risks, auy individual union taking upou itself such action as would tend to nullify this national effort. To permit of such individual freedom to this extent would result in industrial chaos. We have put our signatories to this agreement between the shipowners and ourselves, and we are going to be honourable to it while we desire that it will be carried out. If we were not satisfied with this agreement we would never have signed it. Now that we have signed it, we mean to abide -by it. —Post.