CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 72, 25 March 1919, Page 7

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

FLOUTOHLIiERS , DISPUTE

A sitting of the Conciliation Council was held this morning, Mr. T. Harle Giles, Commissioner, presiding, to consider a dispute filed by the United Hourmillers' Union cgainst four local milling firuiß. The only representative who attended for the employers was Mr. J. O. Gallaher, of the Northern Roller Milling Co. Mt. Giles rang up Bycroft and Co., who stated they were not sending any representative as they would not be milling for the next twelve months, and ware content to accept what was agreed to by Mr. Gallaher.

Ur. Veaie said Mr. L- Partington had told him he was not going to attend, as he employed so little labour. The representatives for the union were Messrs. J. Lee, Thpophilus Bradley, Roderick McLcod, with -Mr. O. .1. Yeale as advocate. The union, demands were. — Illours of Work: (v) When three shifts jnre worked, the hours nskod are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 4 p.m. to 12 midnight, and 12 midnight to 8 am.; (l>) whore two shifts are worked, the hours asked are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. with one hour for dinner, and from i> p.m. to 1 a.m.; (c) where one shift is worked, 8 a.m. to f> p.m.. AH work to cense at noon on Saturday. The vvnires nsked are: Rollerman or shift 'miller, oatmeal or barley storemen and ikilnmon, 1/!) per hour; purifier matter men, 1/8 per hour: other workers, l/"i per hour. Enginedrivers ami carters to jhe p:iiil in accordance with the awards in those branches, and to have one shilling jexbra for night shift. The wages under I the old award wen' respectively 1/4, 11/3* l 1/3. and 1/2 per hour. The wages !a*keil for boys or youths are as follows: 1") to l(i ye.ins, 15/ per week; 10 to 17 years, 20/; 17 to ]H years, 31)/; 18 to l!l year*, -!<>,; and in* to 20 years, 50/ per week. Mr. Giles said the union asked for a »light alteration in conditions and a very jconsiderable increase in pay, in fact it Hooked v pretty stilT demand, but he was aware they always asked for more than [they hoped to get, while, employers of|tVred ess than they were prepared to 'give. A rise from 1/4 per hour to I/O jwas a liia demand. He understood what was aimed at was a reasonable flat rate, las a fair living wage. Under the Act jpasHed last session it was competent for I union* to make further application for ( increased pay, even when there was an j a ward, if they could prove the cost of Ilivinj; had iiicren-od.

The Council then went into committee.