WATERSIDE WORKERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 9, 21 December 1911, Page 5

WATERSIDE WORKERS.

(By Electric Telegraph. (United Press Association.)

Sydney, Dccvfimer 20

The special board appointed to encpiire into the late waterside workers’ trouble has issued its award. It applies to wharf labourers employed in mter-Stato coastal trades, and practically leaves the rate of pay unaltered. The pay for casual work is fixed at Is Hd per hour. The claim for Is 6d is refused. The overtime rate between 7 on Monday morning and 4 on Saturday afternoon is fixed at lOtd an hour. For work on Sundays, Christmas Day, and Good Friday, and Eight Hours Day, the pay is to be Is 6:1 an hour, and on other recognised holidays ‘2s 3d. Some of the working conditions are varied, representing reduction of working hours. Men engaged on non-set work are to be pa d full rates for the first hour or* portion thereof, and half rates afterwards. The much-disputed tea hour is fixed at from 5.30 to 6.30. Preference is granted to unionists. The award has a currency of two years. The wharf labourers are dissatisfied with the award of the Arbitration Court, and it is 'understood they intend to appeaPon the ground that the award is practically the old agreement, against which they struck. A recurrence of the trouble is threatened. Men engaged for the North Coast Company’s .steamer Burringbar to-night refused to work overtime on tne vessel. She is loaded heavily at the bows, but her stern is light. The office staff finished the loading. Napier, December 20. The Union Company’s steamer Wanaka arrived to-day, coal-laden, but the waterside workers refused to accept engagements to work the cargo on the ground that the rates were too low, and no coal was discharged. The Napier Waterside Workers’ Union met to-night and decided to demand an increase of threepence an hour for ord.nary time (Is 9d instead of Is 6d), and eightpence ordinary overtime (2s 9d instead of 2s Id).

Dunedin, December 20

A conference between the representatives of the shipping companies and the representatives of the Lyttelton, Tiinaru and Westport waterside workers commenced this morning. Among those present were Mr. Webb (president of the New Zealand Federation of Labour), and Mr. Semple (organiser of the same body). The sitting was not open to the press. The demands were for increased wages and improved cond'tions. These were discussed at considerable length. It was found eventually that, owing to the limited time before the holidays, and in view of the fact that .several unions whose awards were just about to expire, were not represented, it’would be to the advantage of both sides to postpone the conference till the beginning of the year. The conference consequently adjourned till January 10, when what will amount to a Dominion conference will then be held. In the meantime work will continue without interruption at New Zealand ports, pending the result of the proceedings. The proceedings were characterised by a very cordial tone on both sides, and it is understood there is every prospect of a satisfactory settlement being arrived at the forthcoming conference.

Napier, December 21. The Union Company’s Wanaka is still hold up owing to the waterside workers refusing to work except at increased pay. A conference with the local manager failed to reach an agreement, and the local office is awaiting instructions from headquarters. The Wanaka has 2000 tons of Newcastle coal aboard.