ARBITRATION AWARDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 114, 13 May 1920, Page 8

ARBITRATION AWARDS.

THE 44-HOUH WEEK. REJECTED BY THE COURT. TIME XOT OPPORTUNE. In several of the cases heard by the Arbitration Court when last in Auckland awards have been made, and are now Sled at the Auckland Supreme Court. The most important award is that in the building trade, affecting .the Carpenters and Joiners' Union, the BrickmakeiV Union, and the Operative Stonemasons" Union. The. unions asked for a 40-hour week, but the Court decided that the time -erae not opportune, nor did the circumstances warrant such a radical departure from the long-esfablished customs of the industry. Hours will remain as heretofore at 44 per week.

Minimum wages for journeymen are: Carpenters and joiners, and joiners' machinist*, 2/ an hour; bricklayers and stonemaeone, 2/l§ an hour. In addition a bonus of 3d an hour is to be paid. Overtime is to be paid for at the rate of time and a-half for the first three hours, and double-time thereafter.

This award, in common with' the several other Awards made by the Court, will come into force on May 24; next, and remain in force for two years.

Apprentices are to be paid: First year, 13/ a week; second year, 22/6 a week; third year. 30/' a week: fourth year 37/6 a week: fif tii year. 43/ a -week. Special c&uae3 provide that stonemasons working irranite shall be paid 2/(> extra, and bricklayere paid at the rate of time and a-quartcr for hot or dirty and ether special claesee of work. • A memorandum by the Court states that it understood that the award would, in effect, operate as a Dominion a-ward.' CONTRACTORS' AND OTHER LABOURERS. The hours of work for the builders' labourer*, the contractors' labourers, the coal, lime and cement workers, and the quarry and scoria pit workers were fixed at '44 per week. . Wages for builders' labourers are: Labourers engaged on the actual construction of scaffolds, 1/8 an hour; labourers assisting in erection or demolition of scaffolds or buildings, 1/7 an hour; in addition, a bonus of 3d an hour.

For contractors' labourers the wages are: Drill men and shotfirere, 1/9* an hour; labourers employed in tunnels or in trenches of a depth of seven feet or over 1/8 an hour; labourers employed in concrete work, pick and shovel work, etc., 1/7 an hour. In addition, a bonus of 3d an hour is to be paid.

For coal, lime and cement. Jabourers the wages are: Permanent labourers, £3 10/ a week,'and bonus of 6/ a week; casual labourers, 1/7 an hoar, and bonus of 3d an. hour.

The rates for quarry and scoria pit workers within a 10-mile radius of Auckland are: Drill-men- and shotfirers, 1/9} an hour; all other workers, 1/7 an hour.

SHIPBUILDERS. Under the award in the Auckland Ship, Yacht, and Boatbuilders" Union a 44-hour week is provided. Minimum wage for journeymen shipwrights is fixed at 2/ an hour, and for boatbuilders l/10§ per hour. A bonus of 3d an hour is provided for, but this ie not to be reckoned when computing overtime, which is to be paid for at the rate of time and a half for the first three hours and then at double rates. Work on Sundays and -holidays is to be paid for at double rates. AUCKLAND COACH WORKERS. A 47-bour week is provMcd for in the award . covering the Auckland, coach working industry, and the wage for journeymen is to be not less than 2/ an hour, with a bonus of 3d per hour. BONUS. • A bonus of 4/ a week for men and- 2/ for women was granted by the Uourt to the employees working under the award made infthc Rotorua restaurants ayd similar businesses in that township. BREWERY WAGES. Brewery employees in theOforthern Industrial District with the exception of Gisborne are to work 46 hours/ and the wages have been fixed ait: Brewery labourers, week of 4<S hours. £3 7/6 for the first three months.-and £3 10/ thereafter; chilling room men, £3 15/; night oellarmen connecting and disconnecting hose in chilling room, £3 12/6;' bottling house labourers, week of 48 hours, £3 5/ i for three months, and £3 7/6 thereafter; in addition, a bonus of 4/ a week. Casual labourers are to receive 1/10. an hour.