THE WATERSIDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1922, Page 5

THE WATERSIDERS.

DETAILS OF NEW AWARD. REDUCTION IN WAGES. A PREFERENCE SAFEGUARD. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Nov. 20. The waterside workers’ award reduces wages from 2s 4d to 2s 2d per hour. The overtime ratq is time and a half to 10 p.m. and double from then to ( a.m. After (5 p.m. on Saturdays there are special rates. There is double time for Sundays, Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day, and ordinary overtime for other holidays. Stop-work meetings ate allowed once monthly for two hours. The award expires on April 30, 1924. If a gang is short-handed it must start or may appoint a substitute. An important provision is that preference shall continue only so long as the union shall not order to take any part in strikes, job control, obstruction of any kind, or do anything to defeat an award. There are numerous provisions applicable only to particular localities. The Arbitration Court, in a. note attached to the award, says the rates and conditions varied largely from port to port without apparent reason, and it bos now fixed uniform scales.

The basic wage was arrived at by adding 25 per cent, to the ordinary rate for unskilled labor. Overtime rates had been slightly increased, but many anomalies had been removed which have proved offensive and unreasonable. The Court believes that more regular work will now be ensured and the fringe of casuals lessened. The court hoped to improve the system of engaging labor, but could not arrive at a completely satisfactory method. A scheme is to be tried in Wellington and the award provides that, if this is successful, it may be tried in other ports. The scheffie alluded to in the Arbitration Court award was the result of a conference here between the owners and watersiders. 4k divides the men into gang.?, dosigiffißH by numbers, with a leader. When work is available these gangs arc to be taken in order and any missing places are to be filled from the men available. The union held a ballot which resulted in favor of the scheme by a majority of 195. It is anticipated the amount of idle times will he reduced. the number of the. unemployed “fringe” be reduced, if not abolished, and the number of calls for labor be reduced.