BAKERY TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 188, 10 August 1936, Page 8

BAKERY TRADE.

PENALTY RATE.

DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.

A difference of opinion as to what constitutes the penalty rate for early starting in the bakery trade lias arisen between the Auckland Bakers' Union and the Auckland Master Bakers and Pastrycooks' Association as a result of the Finance Act restoring wages to the 1931 level. In a circular which has just liecn issued the association states that the Finance Act restored wages in the bakery trade as follows: Foremen, £5 10/: journeymen, £5; labourers, £4 0/0; jobbers, 19/ a day; labourer jobliers, 15/ a day. "The penalty rate is still in dispute, and until this matter has been settled we advise you to continue paying at the rate of Gd per hour," adds the circular. In discussing the matter this morning the secretary of the union, Mr. E. J. Watson, said that the union contended that its members were entitled to double time for starting before the prescribed time, as the 1931 award read as follows: '"If any employer shall require any of his workers to start work at an earlier hour than that hereinbefore prescribed, he shall pay such worker overtime at the rate of double time for all time worked between midnight and the hour prescribed for starting work, and such overtime shall be paid notwithstanding a full day's work shall not fie worked by the particular worker who is required to start at sticli earlier hour." Mr. Watson said that when the Finance Amendment Act came to hand the matter would lie submitted to the Conciliation Commissioner for settlement. Actually the union was desirous of the penalty rates being eliminated and the G a.m. start substituted; in other words, daylight, baking. The penalty rates were fixed by the Arbitration Court to prevent night work, and while the union did not want them, its memliers did not want to start early. While early hours were being worked, however, it was maintained that the 1931 double-time rates should be paid foi starting before the prescribed hour.