LABOR DISPUTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2050, 24 May 1890, Page 3

LABOR DISPUTES.

The dispute between the Petone Woollen Company and their employes has been settled. The bakers of Christchurch have decided to give notice to their employes on next Monday that they will strike if the Union’s scale of hours and pay is not granted. The Shag Point miners who are out en strike are. being summoned before the court to compel them to give up possession of the houses they occupy. The Railway Commissioners have promised the Trades and Labor Council that they will pay casual labor the ordinary rate of wages per hour, and give preference to union men. The, Railway Commissioners deny the, statement of Mr Edwards, secretary’.to the Railway Employes Society Executive, published on' Saturday, that a guard, was' dismissed because the bottom of a rotten butter box fell out when he was carrying it, and state that he was discharged more than a year ago because he had misrepresented matters when he was called upon for: an . explanation. The Commissioners add that the statement that men were being discharged in all directions is also incorrect. The Wellington branch of the Railway Employes Society has unanimously decided in favour of extreme measures being adopted if necessary. : The following are some statements of wages which journeymen bakers affirm they receive in Christchurch and the suburbs: —A married man receives 17s 6d a week and bread as a Journeyman. At other shops a journeyman receives £1 a week and breakfast and dinner ; at another, £1 a - week" and board and lodging. A Had received 8s 6d a week and board and lodging, A lad receives 3.2 s 6d a week and found, another lad 8s a week and found. In two instances journeymen are paid £1 5s a week and found, A married man receives £1 10s and bread. He has to walk a mile and a half to-his work. Another journeyman receives £1 10s a week and overtime, without bread. Another, man receives. £l6s and board and lodging, A second hand receives £1 :15s without bread. In two instances married mien receive £1 15s each a week, and bread and flour. A foreman receives £2 a week and breakfast but not bread. At one establishment, which should be a pattern to the others, the foremen receives £3 a week and bread ; a second hand £2 10s a week and bread ; a third hand £2 5s and bread ; two assistants, who have board and lodging, receive £1 and 12s 6d, respectively. The Lyttelton.* bakers--pay-better wages on an average than are paid in Christchurch. £2 10s; with bread and flour, appear to be the ruling weekly wages for good first hahdSj Vrhile -£1 5s and found, and £1 5s and two meals a day, are received others. Men work frequently fourteen or fifteen hours a days. The Operative Bakers’ Society cannot order a strike without the sanction of’ the Trades and Labour Council, which will endeavor to settle the difficulty as towages by pacific means.

The executive of the Railway Servants Society are sending circulars to all the members in reply to that Issued by the Commissioners promising travelling expences to the employes wishing today their grievances before them. Theexecutive point out that the society is the proper medium for the ventilation of grievances ; that the society has offered to send delegates to meet the Commissioners who have ignored it; the executive, theiefore, counsels members not to accept the Commissioners’ offer, but to act pnitedly, shoulder to shoulder.