§ 16. Mr. G. TERRELLasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, with reference to the joiners' strikes in Messrs. Denny's, Dumbarton, if he will state in what respects the system of piece-work previously in operation among the joiners in this yard differed from straight piecework, and why the system was described as a system of modified piece-work?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWe understand straight piece-work to mean that the employers and workmen enter into a contract by which the men agree to do certain work at a certain price. When piece-work was initiated in the joiners' department at Messrs. Denny's yard, I understand that the men were given an assurance that their earnings would never be allowed to fall below their time rate, and in the rare cases where this has occurred the firm have made up the difference. The form of piece-work in the joiners' shop in Messrs. Denny's yard, Dumbarton, is generally 293 described as piece-work with a guaranteed minimum, and not straight piece-work, as that term is generally understood. It is perhaps only right to add that the system of guaranteeing time rate already referred to has become a fairly general practice in engineering establishments. It was for this reason that, in my answer of 15th April last, I described the system in operation amongst joiners in Messrs. Denny's yard as a system of modified piece-work.
§ Mr. TERRELLWhen the right hon. Gentleman says that there was modified piece-work, does he mean that there was piece-work where the time rate is guaranteed?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes; that substantially is what I have endeavoured to convey.
Mr. T. WILSONIs not all the trouble in the shipyards due to the fact that there has never been a time rate in the shipyards?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI said that it was piece-work with time rate guarantee.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI cannot say.