CONCILIATION BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 303, 23 December 1898, Page 5

CONCILIATION BOARD.

THE BOOTMA KE RS! DISP JTE

' RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD.

THE FINDING

• The Auckland Board of Conciliation, under the provisions of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act met this

morning at the Supreme Court buildings in order to make known its recommendations in regard to the dispute between the master bootmakers of Auckland and tbe Auckland Operative Bootmakers' Industrial Union which has been under its consideration for some weeks j)ast. The Rev. A. H. Collins presided, and the other members of the Board present were Messrs J. *i. Holland, M.H.E., ■I. M. Sbera, J. Fawcus, and W. IT. Lucas. Messrs uodgson. Coles, and J. Trejpwith were present on behalf of the employers, and Mr .1. Aggers represented the Operative bootmakers. The Chairman read the finding of the Board in regard to fhe dispute. The Board recommended the following statement of wages and conditions of labour in connection with the boot, shoe, and upper trade in the Northern Industrial District: — Rule 1 (subject to Rule 2): It is the individual right of the employer to decide whom he shall employ or dismiss. It is the individual right of the workman to accept or refuse work from any employer. Rule 2: Employers shall employ members of the workmen's Association in preference to non-members, provided there are members of the Workmen's Association who are equally qualified with non-members to perform the particular work required to be done, and ready and willing to undertake it. When nonmembers are employed there shall be no distinction between the members and non-members; both shall work under the same conditions and receive equal pay for equal work. In the case of any workman who may have conscientious scruples prohibiting him from joining the Workmen's Union, such or any other dispute under this clause shall be decided by the Chairman of the Conciliation Board, under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, in tin* district, in which such dispute shall arise; or, if he shall be unable or unwilling to act, then by some person nominated by him not being connected with the trade and not being a manufacturer or employer in any trade. Rule 3: These.rules and conditions shall apply" to the clicking, benching, finishing, machiner" and rough sturf departments. Rule 4: II is the manufacturer's right to introduce whatever machinery he deems necessary, or his business may require. If a division or sub-division of labour is required for the purpose of working such machinery, such shall be allowed subject to the minimum wage Weekly hands may be employed in connection with machinery subject to payment of the minimum wage hereinafter provided. No restriction shall be put on the output of any machine, or The method of working such machine.

Rule .") (a): Every employer is entitled to the fullest control over the management of his factory, and to make such regulations as he deems necessary for time-keeping and good order. Kvery manufacturer shall be at liberty 1o pay either the recognised piece-work rates or weekly wages, not being less than the minimum hereafter provided, (b). Provided that in Ihe slack season weekly Lands and piece-workers employed on the same class of work shall start and cease, working at the same hour. Provided also that when weekly hands and piece-workers are 'employed together the work shall be fairly 'distributed between them; but this shall netapply to machinery, or the work executed by. means of or in connection with machinery. There shall be no restriction in the employment or wages of hands engaged by the week when the wages are satisfactory to the employer and employed, subject to the recognised minimum; and any person shall be at liberty to arrange with his employers to work on the weekly wage system.

Rule (>: For all purposes of this statement the classification of uppers shall be by the vamps, or golosh/except for slippers and canvas work. Rule 7: Employers shall find all grindery, workshops, light, etc., and serve out, all colours and materials used in connection with the trade. Ride S: All work on the statement embodied in Rule 2G shall be performed in the factory or workshops, only except Avhen permits to work at home are granted to workme.ii for special reasons. Such permits shall be obtained from the Chairman of the Conciliation Board. Rule 9 classified the various departments. Utile 10: The recognised regulations of labour shall be fixed by each employer and shall be between the hours of 7.45 a.m. and 5.H0 p.m. on five days of tbe week, and from 7.45 a.m. to 12 noon oil the recognised factory halfholiday, subject to 45 hours' being considered a full week; overtime rates must be, paid according to Rule 12. Should a. public holiday intervene the time lost; through such holiday shall be deducted from the 45 and not from the overtime. Any time lost by any workman in any one week shall be deducted from any overtime worked by him during that week before he. shall be paid overtime rates. Rule 11: No employer employing workmen at weekly wagesj, shall (except as herein provided) pay to any such workman any less sum than at the rate of tenpence -per hour. Rule 12: Overtime may in an emergency be worked to the extent, of four hours iv any one week, at the ordinary : rate of pay; all additional overtime shall be paid at the rate of time and a-quarter. Ninepence peiyhour above tbe prices herein mentioned shall be paid for all piece-work worked by overtime in excess of four hours in any one week. Rule 13: Instructors for apprentices in each shall be paid not less than 11-16 per hour where less than three boys are engaged, and 1/0-1 per hour where three boys and over are engaged. No instructor shall be allowed to receive any commission out of the earnings of the boys under his charge. Clickers, benchers, rough stuff cutters and finishers in charge of any machinery and filling up their time at their branch of the trade shall be paid not less than at the rate of lOd per hour.

Rule 14: In the case of men in the clicking, benching, finishing, machinery and rough stuff departments working- on weekly wages, and who are not capable of commanding the minimum rate ;of wages, they .may refer their case to a Committee consisting of two representatives of the employers and two representatives of the local union, and failing a. satisfactory settlement it shall be referred to

the Chairman of the Conciliation Board for the district in which the question arises, Avho shall deal with it, and whose decision shall be final. [ Rule 15: (a) All apprentices shall serve for a. term of five years, (b) Tho proportion of apprentices to journeymen in the several branches of the trade shall be as follows, and no greater: Clicking department, one apprentice to every three men or fraction of the first three. Benching department, one apprentice to every four men or fraction of the first four. Finishing department, one apprentice1 to every four men or fraction of the first four. Rough stuff department, one apprentice to every two men or fraction of the first two. ■Machinery department, one apprentice to every three men or fraction of the first three, (c) For the purpose of determining the proportion of apprentices to journeymen a given number of men must have been employed in any shop or factory for six months equal to two-thirds full time, (d) For the purpose of determining the proportion of apprentices' who may be employed in the machinery department all branches of the trade to which this award applies in which machinery is used shall be treated as one department, (c) The preceding rules are not to interfere with the engagement of present apprentiees,but no new apprentice shall be taken by any employer until the number of apprentices employed by him shall be reduced to the proportion herein provided, (f) Employers' sons shall not be restricted by the foregoing rules, (g) Boys not apprentices shall be allowed to cut side linings for benchmen, size boots and feed eyeletting machines, (h) That all boys be allowed to enter a factory for one month's trial,and no boy be allowed a second trial in the Same factory. Rules 16 to 25 dealt with teehnicalitis and the work to be done in each department. Rule 26: That before any action to disturb the present arrangement be taken either by the employers or employees three months notice thereof shall" be given by the respective parties.' The finding of the Board then specified the detailed prices for piecework. The Board further stated that this agreement, should remain in force from February 1, 1599, till January 31, 1901, a period of two years. The penalty for a breach of this agreement by either party would be a sum not exceeding £10. Some, discussion took place between the members of the Board and the representatives of the employers and employees regarding" certain items in the list of prices for piece work, and the Board adjourned, till this afternoon.