HC Deb 28 January 1937 vol 319 cc1046-9
9. Mr. Mander

asked the Minister of Labour the present standard rate of wages for unskilled labourers in South Staffordshire?

Mr. E. Brown

The standard rates of wages for unskilled labourers in South Staffordshire vary as between different industries and different localities. I am sending the hon. Member a statement giving the available information.

Mr. Mander

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT, in view of the fact that in many cases the standard rates are not being paid?

Mr. Brown

I shall be glad to do that if the hon. Member desires it.

Mr. Hicks

Will the Minister take the resonsibility of deciding what is a proper rate of payment?

Mr. Brown

I content myself with answering the question and circulating the answer.

Following is the statement:

Minimum Rates of Wages of Unskilled Labourers in South Staffordshire.

The standard rates of wages for unskilled labourers vary in different industries and, in some cases, for different areas within the same industry. The attached table shows the minimum time rates of wages fixed by collective agreements between organisations of employers and workpeople for unskilled workmen in certain important industries in which such agreements specifically relate to localities in South Staffordshire. In certain other industries there are agreements which fix minimum rates of wages without specifying the areas to which they relate. The rates fixed by such agreements will be applicable in South Staffordshire in so far as there are employers located in that area who are affiliated to the employers' organisations concerned. The minimum rates of wages fixed under the Trade Boards Acts

Time Rates of Wages agreed upon by Organisations of Employers and Workpeople for Unskilled Workmen employed in certain industries in South Staffordshire.*
Industry and Class of Worker. District. Rate of Wages. Hours of Labour. Parties to the Agreement.
Agriculture— Per week. Per week.
Ordinary labourers. Staffordshire 32s. 6d. 54 †
Per shift. Per shift.
Coal Mining— South Staffordshire 6s. 2d. plus 7½ South Staffordshire and East Worcestershire Coal Masters' Association and Representatives of the Workmen employed at the Collieries.
Underground labourers. 1s. per day. Per week.
Surface labourers 6s. 2d. plus 1s. per day. 46
Pig Iron Manufacture— Per shift. Per shift.
General and by-turn labourers. South Staffordshire 6s. o½d. plus 10.66 per cent. 8 South Staffordshire Iron-masters' Association and the National Union of Blastfurnacemen, Ore Miners, Coke Workers and Kindred Trades.
Brewing— Per week. Per week.
Labourers Burton-on-Trent 58s. 0d. 48 Burton Brewers and Transport and General Workers' Union.
Flour Milling—
General labourers, cleaners, etc. Walsall, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton. 54s. 6d. 47 National Joint Industrial Council for the Flour Milling Industry.
Bilston 52s. 0d.
Building— Willenhall 48s. 6d.
Per hour.
Labourers Burton-on-Trent, Tipton, Walsall (including Wednesbury and Darlaston), West Bromwich, Wolverhampton (including Willenhall and Bilston). 1s. 2d. "Summer" 46½; Rest of year 44. National Joint Council for the Building Industry. Note.—The rates quoted are to be increased, on and from 1st February, 1937, by ½d. per hour at Cannock and Hednesford, Stafford and Tamworth, and by ¼d. per hour in other districts mentioned.
Cannock and Hednesford, Stafford and Tamworth. 1s. 1½d.
Lichfield and Rugeley 1s. 1¼d.
Per hour. Per week.
Civil Engineering— Navvies and labourers. Smethwick, Walsall, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton. 1s. 2d. Summer 49½ Winter 44 Civil Engineering Construction Conciliation Board for Great Britain.
Burton-on-Trent 1s. 2d.
Aldridge, Amblecote, Bilston, Brierley Hill, Brownhills, Cannock, Coseley, Darlaston, Lichfield, Sedgley, Stafford, Tamworth, Tetten-hall, Tipton, Wednesbury, Wednesfield and Willenhall. 1s. 1d.
Rugeley 1s. 0½d.
Rural Districts 1s. 0d.

are also, in most cases, of general application throughout the country and such rates are, of course, binding on all employers in the trades concerned in South Staffordshire.

Industry and Class of Worker. District. Rate of Wages. Hours of Labour. Parties to the Agreement.
Railway Service— Per week.
Porters (Grade 2) (Traffic dept.). Industrial Areas 40s. 0d. 48 Railway Companies and the National Union of Railwaymen.
Goods porters Industrial Areas 44s. 0d. Note.—The rate of 44s. is subject to a deduction of 6d. per week.
Railway Workshops—
Labourers (Grade II). Walsall, West Bromwich, and Wolverhampton. 45s. 6d. 47 Railway Companies and the National Union of Railwaymen and the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades.
Stafford 44s. 6d.
Note.—The rates quoted are subject to a deduction of 7d. and 6d. per week respectively.
Electricity Supply—
General Labourers. Smethwick 1s. 1.78d. 47 District Industrial Council for the Electricity Supply Industry—No. 5 (West Midlands Area).
Stafford, Walsall, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton. 1s. 1.28d.
Cannock 1s. 0.78d.
Local Authorities' Non - Trading Services—
Labourers, roadmen, sweepers, etc. Smethwick, Walsall, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton. 51s. 2½d. 47 West Midlands Joint Industrial Council for Local Authorities' Non-Trading Services (Manual Workers).
Bilston, Brierley Hill, Cannock, Coseley, Darlaston, Stafford, Tipton, Wednesbury, Wednesfield and Willenhall. 48s. 4d.
Aldridge, Brownhills, Lichfield, Tamworth and Sedgley. 45s. 6½d.
Amblecote, Rugeley and Tettenhall. 42s. 8½d.
Rural Districts adjacent to industrial areas. 38s. 11d.
* That part of the county lying south of a line through Stafford.
† In this case the minimum rate quoted is embodied in an Order under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924.