WORK AND WAGES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 53, 4 March 1913, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

OVERTIME THE POINT OF DIFFERENCE. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, March i. In connection with the dispute between the Institute of Marine Engineers and the Union Company, the chief point drdifferehce'xs'on'.til'd t|Ues-’-’■ tion of overtime. The engineers are asking for the same rates of pay as have been awarded by Federal Arbitration Court to the Australian Branches of the Institute, and also for the same conditions as to hours, work, and overtime rates. In effect, the Federal Court has given engineers an eight hours’ day with extra payment per hour for all time worked in excess of this. The Company, it is understood, is prepared to give the men the Australian rates of wages, but the only concession in regard to overtime is that the engineer may only be paid as much as £2 per month in respect to time worked in excess of the eight hours’ day, but no more. It is asserted on behalf of the men that they regularly work a large number of hours overtime and £2 is not considered sufficient reward for such work. It understood that 92 per cent, of the engineers are in favor of a strike. The Mararoa’s engineers came ashore to-day. Dunedin, March 4. The engineers on the Matai are giving 24 hours’ notice to the Union Company of their intention to leave, which notice expires at Lyttelton tomorrow. It is asserted that they received instructions not to sign on, but this was received too late.