TAWA FLAT TUNNEL DISPUTE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 263, 27 January 1928, Page 1

TAWA FLAT TUNNEL DISPUTE

WAGES AND TIME AN AWARD MADE Press Association. WELLINGTON. Thursday. The following decision in regard to the Tawa Flat tunnel dispute has been issued by the tribunal set up: The parties themselves came to an industrial agreement with regard to all conditions of employment except regarding wages and travelling time. The chairman was Mr. E. Page, S.M, In his award he states: “The main question to be decided is that of wages. There are in existence a number of awards and agreements fixing the minimum rates of wages payable for work somewhat similar to that to be performed on this undertaking. The most relevant of these are probably the Public Works workers’ agreement of April 8, 1927, and the Sir W. G. Armstrong. Whitworth and Company’s agreement of May 72, 1927. The workers in itae present dispute claim a substantial Increase on the minimum rate 3 fixed in thosq agreements. RATES OF PAY “In my view no grounds have been adduced justifying an increase in the rates above referred to. Minimum rates of pay hereafter detailed are fixed by me on the basis of those prevailing in the agreements of 1927 abovementioned. On tbe question of travelling time, having regard to the fact that In the absence of huts or other local accommodation the men are compelled to live some distance from the locality of this work, I think allowance toward the cost of transport should be made. I fix tbe amount at Is each man a day. “The minimum rates of pay are:—• Shovellers, Is lid an hour; machine men. 2s 2d; shift boss, 2s 2d; locomotive driver, 2s 2d; outside men, Is 9£d. These rates are fixed as tne minimum rates. It will be seen that they are not as high as rates that have already been paid on the job. The contractors state that they have paid rates higher than the minimum, partly to enable them to secure good men and partly to compensate the men for the time and cost of travelling to and from the job. I consider that with regard to the men already employed they should suffer no reduction. “A question as to whether the Hutt Road approach to the tunnel is in a safe condition, was raised at the hearing. The question is not one that was before this tribunal for consideration, but a memorandum on the matter has been sent by me to the engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department.”