BOROUGH EMPLOYEES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 113, 28 September 1912, Page 4

BOROUGH EMPLOYEES.

WAGES AND CONDITIONS. AGREEMENT ARRIVED AT. In lieu of an Arbitration Court award, an agrreement has been come to with respect to wages and conditions of employment between the New Plymouth Borough Council and the New Plymouth General Labourers' Union. The agreement which is signed by representative* of both' parties, comes into force on October 3, and shall have a currency of two years, and thereafter shall continue to remain in force until superseded by another agreement or award. Under the agreement a full week's work shall consist of 47 hours. Special provision is made for tunnel work and men engaged, in sweeping and clearing the streets, in regard to whom the Corporation is allowed some latitude in the matter of hours of employment. The minimum rate of wages provided are: All workers engaged in tunnel work and all workers sinking shafts over .six feet deep in connection with tunnels' (and where the air in such tunnels or shafts is foul) 10s per shift of 6 hours: and where the air is not foul, 10s per shift of 8 hours; concrete workers, bricklayers' labourers, workers engaged in spreading metal, scaffolders and all workers working; in wet places, Is 2d per hour; general labourers employed on work not hereinbefore mentioned (and including drainage and sewerage workers), Is iy.,d per hour. Overtime shall be paid for'at the rate of time and a quarter for the first two hours, time and a half thereafter up to 10 p.m.. and, double time between 10' p.m. and file ordinary time for commencing work next morning, if worked continuously. Workers required to commence work between the hours of 6 a.m. and the ordinary time of commencement shall, be paid at the rate of time and a quarter. The following shall be the recognised holidays:—New Year's Day, Good- Friday, Easter Monday, Labor Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Da v. Work done on Sunday. Good Friday arid Christmas Day shall be paid for at the rate of double time, and on other holidays time and half. Youths may be employed at not less than the following rates of wages:—Jp to 17 years of age 18s per week; up to 18 years of age £1 2s; up to 10 years of age fl Os; up to 20 years of age £1 10s; up to 21 years oi age £1 His. The proportion of" youths shall not be more than one to every five men employed. Provision is also made for suburban work, tools, under-rate workers, and payment of wages fortnightly. Preference to Unionists is stipulated with the proviso that it shall not prevent the continued workers now in the employment of the Borough, although they may not be or become 'members of the Union. There shall be no discrimination between Unionists and non-unionists ,in the Council's employ. In reeard to strikes it is provided as follows;—If any strike by any of the workers a fleeted bv the agreement shall occur in which any members of the Union slnll take part, then the operation of all the provisions container! in the foregoing clauses of this agreement shall be suspended. Anv party bound by the agreement may apply to the Court for an .order declaring that a strike has taken place. Drivers are specially provided for. Irrespective of the number of horses, they shall work 5.3 hours per week. Their wages shall be £2 lis per week; the special time for beginning and leaving off work to be fixed by the Corporation. The above -weeklywage shall include payment for-any time necessary for efficient attendance on horses additional to the above fiftv-three-hours after ordinary hours and on Pundays. A. driver employer! on a watercart after 12.30 p.m. on Saturdays shall' be-paid Ls,]i/.d for each hour'so employed. No other clauses in the affluent skill apply to drivers.