D.—la.

(27) Works nearing-Completion. Where practicable workmen should be informed at least one week before it will become necessary to shorten hands owing to the advanced stage or completion of a work. (28) Transfer of Workmen. When a workman is transfered by and for the convenience of the Department reasonable actual expenses incurred by him in travelling to the new work shall be refunded to him by the Department on production of receipts therefor, and he shall be paid his ordinary daily rate of pay for the working-days allowed by the engineer prior to commencement of the journey. (29) Grievances. (a) Local engineers shall have power to settle all reasonable grievances of workmen with the accredited representative of the union. If the engineer and the union representative are unable to arrive at a settlement of the dispute, or if the engineer is of opinion that the dispute is beyond his authority, he and the union representative shall each forward a statement to the local District Engineer for settlement. When all efforts of the District Engineer to effect a settlement have failed, then only shall the dispute be referred to the Head Offices of the Department and of the New Zealand Workers' Union. Work shall continue until the dispute has been settled by the engineer with the union representative, or by the District Engineer, or until a ruling has been given by the Minister. (b) Complaints received direct from either workmen or local representatives of the union regarding disputes will not be recognized by the Minister or Head Office of the Department. (c) No claim for retrospective pay, allowances, or overtime, &c., will be recognized if not made within one month after the pay-day for the period to which such claim relates. (30) Preference to Unionists. (a) Every workman already in the employ of the Department who comes within the scope of this agreement shall become a financial member of the New Zealand Workers' Union not later than one month after the date on which a copy of this agreement is first displayed on the works on which he is employed. (5) Every new man arriving on works who is unable to produce to the officer in charge an official receipt issued by the New Zealand Workers' Union for his subscription for that ticket-year of the union shall become a financial member of that union not later than one month from the date he commences duty. Provided, however, that any artisan who on arrival on works produces a receipt for his subscription to his trade union for that financial year shall not be required to join and become a financial member of the New Zealand Workers' Union until the first pay day after he has been employed on the work for a period of two months. (c) Any workman who does not comply with the foregoing conditions and does not continue to be a financial member of the New Zealand Workers' Union shall not be retained on the works after the expiry of any period of notice to which he may be legally entitled. (d) Enrolment of members and collection of annual subscriptions shall be the duty of the representative of the New Zealand Workers' Union on the works, and he shall notify the officer in charge immediately a workman falls into arrears with the payment of his annual subscription to the union, but the Department may collect subscriptions on behalf of the union when workmen give the necessary legal authority. (31) Scope of Agreement. This agreement applies to workmen employed on construction works but does not apply to workmen employed regularly on maintenance or operation of existing works or services— i.e., surfacemen on highways or roads, workmen engaged on operation and maintenance of hydro-electric and irrigation schemes, tradesmen and others employed on maintenance, &c., of buildings. Neither does it apply to workmen who are appointed by the Public Service Commissioner. (32) Duration. (a) This agreement shall come into operation on the Ist day of June, 1936, and shall remain in operation until the 30th day of May, 1939, subject, however, to the Minister having the right, in the event of any of its terms being violated, to cancel a part or the whole of the agreement, either in respect of a particular locality or of the whole of the Dominion, after calling upon the parties to this agreement concerned to show cause why this should not be done. (6) The Minister shall also be entitled to alter the rates of pay at any time if the Government should find this necessary, and the union shall be given due notice thereof. (Sgd.) R. Semple, Minister of Public Works. (Sgd.) J. Wood, Acting Engineer-in-Chief and Under-Secretary, Public Works Department. (Sgd.) A. Cook, General Secretary, New Zealand Workers' Union. Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (750 copies), £12.

By Authority: 6. H. Loney, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 936.

Price 6d.]

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