THE FEDERATIONISTS' DEMANDS.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 70, 12 July 1912, Page 9

THE FEDERATIONISTS' DEMANDS.

Tho following communication, which has been sent to all the mine-owners in Otago and Southland, fully explains itself: —

"My union has instructed mo to write to the various coal mine owners in Otago and Southland, asking thorn if they aro agreeable to meet representatives of tho Otago Coal Miners' Union for the purpose of entering into new agreements covering the wages and conditions of work in the different mines. As my union is of tho opinion that there aro many things in connection with wn.gcs and working conditions in mines that should be uniform both in tho interests of tho employer and employee, they ask you if you are prepared to meet representatives of the union, together with representatives of the other principal mine-owners, for the purpose of arriving at a uniform agreement covering all matters that could be made uniform ; of course, so far as hewing rates aro concerned, it is recognised that, owing to local conditions in each district, it would not be possible to mako .them uniform, but there aro a number of other matters Wiat should bo uniform. lam forwarding you a copy of our schedule of proposed new rates and conditions of work. An early reply will oblige.—Yours truly, R. H. RIDD, Secretary of tbo Otago Conlminers' Union (affiliated to the New Zealand Federation of Labor). Then follow the demands. Clause 1 relates to tho cavilling conditions, all places to be ballotted for every three months. Thc most important alteration from the previous award is in clause a of this section, which provides: "Dips to bo exempt from ballot, and to be paid for at the rate of 13s. 6d. per shift." (This means an increase in thc existing wage of 2s. fid. per shift.) Weighing of Coal. —All coal shall be weighed by the company. Shift Hours.—Hours of work to be in accordance with the Coal Mines Act, 1903, and : ts amendments for all underground workers. For all other workers, the hour," shall be eight hours.

Shift Wages.—Shift wages shall be not less than 12s. fid. per shift, and 12s. fid. per shift for six-hour shifts when doing any work at fires.

(An increase of Is. Gd. ]w shift.) Clause 5 asks for an increase from 15 to 20 per cent, in piecework.

Other important clauses arc:—Truckers: Truckers shall bo paid as follows— Fourteen year" of age, ss. per shift, with an increase of Is. per shift for every year over 14. years of ago until the age of 19. Truckers over 19 years of age with six months' experience shall be paid 12s. per shift. (This represents an increase for the men of 2s. per shift.) General provisions: Any miner taken away from the face to do any work either inside or outside the mine shall be paid shift wages (1.25. Od. par shift) and Is. per shift extra for afternoon slr' f t; 2s. extra for night shift. The employer shall provide all tools for permanent shift men. Enginedrivers and Firemen : Engine drivers (where a certificate is required) shall be paid lis. per shift; firemen shall be paid 10s. por shift. (Also a substantial increase.) Preference: Preference of employment shall be given to members of the union. If tho employer shall hereafter engage any worker coming under the soopo of this agreement who is not a member of the union, and ;ho, within one calendar month aftej

his engagement by tho employer shall not beoomo and remain a member of the union, tho employer shall dismiss suoh worker from his service if requested to do so by tho union, provided there is then a member of the union equally qualified to d» the work required to be done and ready aud willing to undertake tho same.

The union registered under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act has also forwarded a reference of demands for consideration by th© Kaitangata mineowners. "Otago Times."