CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 29, 3 February 1919, Page 8

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

AERATED WATER EMPLOYEES. The Conciliation Council sat this morning to deal with a dispute tiled by the Auckland Aerated Water Union of Employees. The assessors for the employers were Messrs R. It. Menzles, W. Handley, and S. K. Wright, and for the union Messrs B. Martin. \V. McPherson, and 1». Eversen. The union asked for a 46 hour week from November 1 to April 30, and 44 hours from May 1 to October 31. The minimum wage asked was: Cordial makers, £3 15/ per week; machine bottlers, labellers, and crown corker, £3 8/6; bottle washers aud general hands, £3 7/6 per week, with overtime at the rate of time and a-ualf; casual labour to be paid 1/8 per hour. The wages asked for youths was: From 14 to 16 years of age, 20/ per week; 16 to IS years, 25/ per week; IS to 19 years, 30/ per week; 20 to 21 years, 40/ per week. The employers counter proposals were: The old award, with the following adeutions:—Hours of drivers, 60 per week from November 1 to April 30, and 48 hours per week from May 1 to October 31. These hours include time occupied In necessary attendance on horses and motors. All conditions of the award to apply to motor and horse drivers, whose wages shall be fixed by the general drivers award In operation. A new clause was suggested, that any employer may employ a driver at work outside his ordinary duties, for the purpose of tilling lv time, hut In such case he shall be paid not less than the award rate for such work, not being less In any ease than the ordinary rates for drivers. Mr T. llarle Giles, commissioner, complimented the union upon the brevity of the demands. He snld the award was to supplement one In existence, and also a supplementary one under which the men got 2/ per week extra. The present demands were for higher wages for men and youths, nnd shorter hours. There was also a difference in the matter of overtime. At present time and a-quarter was allowed for the tirst two hours, aud time and a-ualf thereafter. The new demand was for time and a-half. The employers had submitted the old awcrd, with new provisions regarding drivers. Mr Wright' explained the objecc wns that while the drivers should be under this award, tuey should be under the same conditions as the Drivers' Award. The Council then went into commltt**