COAL LUMPERS’ CONFERENCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8857, 6 July 1907, Page 2

COAL LUMPERS’ CONFERENCE.

Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, July 5. pirn . conference in the coal lumpers’ difficulty was resumed. After some fencing regarding the question of working with certain non-union foremen, the chairman of the Lumpers’ Union declared that if the conference proved abortive the responsibility would rest on the shoulders of the employers. The employers’ reply jto the men’s demands submitted on Wednesday was then road. It stated that the Steam Collier Owners and Stevedores’ Association had decided ihat all foremen shall he appointed by and he absolutely under the jurisdiction of employers, and cease to be members of the Coal Lumpers’ Union. They declined to grant any increase for night overtime,'but will pay 2s 8d per hour for Saturday afternoon, and promised to restrict Sunday work as much as possible, compatible with carrying on the work of the port; acceded to the request that no work ho done during meal hours; declined to grant full rates for the time the men were kept waiting, but if ordered’for a job which does not eventuate, were willing to give each disappointed man ss, an 1 where ordered to a job which does not commence for the hour stated, they would pay, an hourly wage until the work begins or the men were sent home agreed to make eight yards the limit for two carriers, instead of seven; and asked, if these proposals were accepted, that an agreement he drawn up asking the Arbitration Court to vary the awards in accordance therewith. The conference adjourned to allow the lumpers’ delegates to consider the proposals. On the employers’ spokesmen, iii reply to a question, said these were the employers’ final proposals. The conference then adjourned until Monday, the delegates in the meantime to place the employers’ proposals before the Coal Lumpers’ Union.