MINERS ON WEST COAST

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 992, 7 June 1930, Page 5

MINERS ON WEST COAST

CONFERENCE FAILS TO REACH AGREEMENT FIVE POINTS AT ISSUE Press Association WELLINGTON, Friday. The conference between representatives of the District Council of Miners’ Unions and representatives of the West Coast coalmining’ companies, which has been sitting since May 27 for the purpose of making a new working agreement for the Buller and Grey district collieries, terminated on June 3 without finality having been reached. At the beginning of the conference both sides submitted numerous proposals for alterations to the expired agreement, and these were all discussed at length. The issues were finally narrowed down to five, which were as follow: (1) The miners’ minimum wage clause, which the employers seek to amend so that the minimum wage shall be calculated on a fortnightly basis instead of a weekly basis as at present. The alteration would bring the clause into line with those in the other districts of New Zealand. (2) The wet time clause, which the employers seek to amend so as to restrict the definition of a wet place somewhat, and also by providing that when a. place can be made dry, it shall be made dry.

(3) Clause 21, providing for the engagement of men, which the miners seek to delete, and which the employers offered to amend to read as follows: —“While at any time there are employees of that mine members of the union or branch union at that time waiting for employment (other than any who may have been dismissed for misconduct), who, in the opinion of the management, are competent to fill any vacancy that may arise, the manager shall not engage new men to fill vacancies. With this exception there shall be no restriction upon the right of mine managers in the engagement of new men. Any case of alleged injustice in the employment of men shall be referred to a committee of three representatives of the Miners’ District Council and three representativs of the New Zealand Coalmine Owners' Association for settlement.”

(4) The term of the agreement, the miners asking for the usual term of two years, and the owners asking for a shorter term of one year, or at most 18 months, in view of the uncertainty of the coal trade in the near future. (5) Holidays.—Without altering the present holidays, the employers sought an amendment of the agreement to provide that on Easter Saturday and December 24, on which days shipping is worked by watersiders, such men as may be required to work shall be paid ordinary rates and not double time. The miners’ representatives have stated that they will consult the unions.

A conference on the enginedrivers’ agreement, previously arranged for today. has been postponed, pending some settlement of the major agreement.^

FURTHER CONFERENCE

MEETING NEXT WEEK Press Association GREYMOUTH, Friday. After the failure of the conference at Westport between coal owners and miners’ representatives to reach a new agreement, the unions were advised by their representatives to hold meetings on Monday next, to consider the position, and to decide whether combined action should be taken against the employers. However, news received tonight indicates that the leaders of the mineowners and the mine workers have meantime been in communication, and have arranged to hold another meeting, with the object of settling the points outstanding. In consequence the Miners’ National Executive will tomorrow advise all of the unions of the West Coast that the meetings which h.-.d been summoned for Monday are to

hr* postponed untii such time as the outcome of the further conference has been ascertained*