HC Deb 05 May 1908 vol 188 cc23-4
MR. W. T. WILSON (Lancashire, Westhoughton)

To ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the firm of Siemens Brothers, who supply tables and other articles to the naval hospitals, only pay 10d. per hour to the joiners employed on this work, the standard rate being 10½d. per hour; whether he is aware that the firm absolutely refuse to meet the representatives of the Joiners' Society, who have made several requests for an interview with the object of amicably arranging the grievance they have against the firm; And whether he will take steps to induce the firm to pay the standard rate of wage and comply with the rules regulating the trade as agreed upon between em- plovers and employees engaged on similar work.

(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) No contract for the articles referred to is at present held by the firm. All contracts for such articles would contain the usual clause as to the payment of the current rate of wages for the district, and any complaint that might be lodged with reference to a specific Admiralty contract would be inquired into in the usual way.

MR. W. T. WILSON

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the firm of Siemens Brothers, who supply telephone cabinets and other articles to his Department, only pay 10d. per hour to the joiners employed on this work, the standard rate of wage being 10½d. per hour; whether he is aware that the firm absolutely refuses to meet the representatives of the Joiners' Society, although they have made several requests to the firm for an interview; and whether he will take steps to induce the firm to pay the standard rate of wage and comply with the rules agreed upon between employers and employees engaged in similar work.

(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I have had inquiry made, and I find that Messrs. Siemens employ at their Woolwich Factory (where Post Office work is occassionally done) about forty men on work consisting partly of joinery and partly of cabinet making, at the rate of 10d. an hour for a week of fifty-four hours. When employed on piece-work their earnings are increased by about 20 per cent. These men enjoy special privileges, including free medical attendance and a prospective pension.