ELECTRICAL WORKERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10291, 28 May 1919, Page 5

ELECTRICAL WORKERS

DUNEDIN DISPUTE PARTIAL SETTLEMENT ARRIVED AT. Press Association. DUNEDIN, May 27. The Conciliation Commissioner sat to-day to hear the general electrical workers’ dispute. The union asked for tho following rates: —Journeymen electricians, Is lid per hour; armature winders. Is lid; linesmen, Is lOd; and assistant linesmen Is 9d. Tho employers offered Is 73d, Is 6d, and Is 3d, with a bonus of 23d per hour. An agreement was arrived at, the pay of electricians and armature windei-s being fixed at Is 73d per hour plus a bonus of 23d. A basic wage of Is Bd per hour was fixed for linesmen, but the question of bonuses was left to the court to settle.

Mr Henderson, city electrical engineer, said that this was an entirely hew principle, and would have a far-reaching effect. His instructions were not to concede a bonus. The Commissioner said that it was unusual for local bodies to hold out in such disputes. Ho thought it very unwise.

Mr Henderson said that if the concession was made it probably would mean an increased expenditure of between £15,000 and £20,000 for the year.

Regarding apprentices, the union asked l‘ss for the first year, 20s for the second. 28s for the third, 3os for tho fourth, 60s for the fifth. The employers offered 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s and 455. Tlie question was referred to tho Arbitration Court, as also were the proportion of apprentices and improvers, a clause as to dirt money, preference, and the duration of the award. An overtime rate of time and a half for the first three hours, then double Hme, was agreed to. Tho wages of helpers in the power station not otherwise provided for, was fixed, at Is 3jd. The question of a bonus is to be settled by the Arbitration Court.