LIME WORKERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 211, 6 August 1937, Page 8

LIME WORKERS

APPLICATION FOR AWARD. CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS. Conciliation Council proceedings were commenced in Palmerston North to-day in which those employed in the lime works in the Wellington Industrial District put forward demands, though the Wellington Labourers’ and Related Trades Industrial Union ot Workers, for the formulation of an award covering their employment. Mr R. E. Price, Conciliation Commissioner, presided. The assessors for the union were Messrs P. M. Butler (advocate), of Wellington; R. N. Shaw, of Masterton; J. Arthur, of Takapau, and M. O’Grady, of Wellington. For the employers the assessors were Messrs S. I. McKenzie (advocate), of Palmerston North; J. C. Davidson, of Paliiatua; A. D. Low, of Masterton ; and G. Dryden, of Eketahuna. It was indicated at an early stage that the dispute would have to be referred to the Arbitration Court, and tho parties then proceeded to discuss the reconciliation, as far as possible, of the two sets of proposals. The demands by the union were for a 40-hour week, to be worked from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, inclusive. The following wages were sought:—Drillman or quarryman with explosive permit, £6 a week; drillmen and quarrymen, £5 10s; petrol and Diesel locomotive drivers, £5 3s 4d; feeders to crushers and mills, £o 3s 4d; feeders to burnt lime mill, £5 3s 4d; rotary-kiln burners, £5 10s; drawers from rotary-kiln bin, £5 3s 4d; lime and coal-drier fireman, £5 6s 8d; burners and drawers, £5 3s 4d; lime-classers, £5 3s 4d; baggers and packers (burnt lime), £5 3s 4d; spallers, £5 3s 4d; steam and Diesel digger drivers, £5 10s; men working hydrator, £5 3s 4d; all other workers, £5. , The employers proposed that the houre per week not exceed 44 and, except in the case of shifts, to be worked between the hours of 7.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on week days and 7.30 a.m. and mid-day on Saturdays. The employers proposed that provision be allowed for the making up of lost time, and the minimum wages proposed were 2s 2d an hour for drillmen or quarrymen with an explosive permit, 2s 2d an hour for steam and Diesel digger drivers, and 2s an hour for all other workers. The following proposals were made for the employment of youths: For the first six months, 15s per week ; for the second six months, IPs ; for the third six months, 235; for the fourth six months, 275; for the fifth six months, 31s; for the sixth six months, 355; for the fourth year, 40; for the fifth year, 60s; thereafter adult rates. Provided that where a youth has had four years factory experience, one year or more of which has not been in a lime factory, the wage for the fifth year should not be less than £2 5s per week. Overtime payment was proposed to be time and a-half for the first four hours and double time thereafter, Sunday rates to be double the ordinary rates. It was also, proposed that the award operate throughout the Wellington Industrial District, except the Hawke’s Bay provincial district. On the union’s side, the proposals included time and a-half for overtime for the first two hours, and double time thereafter, Sunday work to be paid for at double time, while a week’s holiday was specified for each year.

SCOPE OF DISCUSSIONS. There were 11 companies cited ns parties by the union, and the Hawke’s Bay Union of Workers applied for exemption for five of them, at Hatuma, Hastings (two), Napier, and Waipawa. The union’s claims were first taken as a basis of argument, and the determination of the companies affected was left to the Arbitration Court. Tho employers’ assessors stated that they were interested only in the production of agricultural lime, and did not think that there should be so many classifications. Many affected burnt lime. Mr Butler said that an agreement had been proposed already to cover the Hawke’s Bay works, which provided for wages below those suggested by the union. He asserted that, whether there was an agreement or not, the Hawke’s Bay firms so included in the agreement would be included in the award. Mr McKenzie pointed out that the assessors had no authority to speak for the Hawke’s Bay firms, and Mr Butler replied that representation or not was a matter for the firms concerned. After a discussion, it was decided to eliminate the classification of spallers, the remainder of the classifications being left for tho time being as a number applied to the manufacture of burnt lime, which industry was being carried on in Hawke’s Bay. thus not being represented. The discussion then shifted to the employers’ classification, and it was suggested that the employers xiclude two more classifications to cover a shift-boss and drill-man for presentation to the Court.

The employers then retired to consider the proposals advanced, the luncheon adjournment being taken in the meantime.