DAIRY FACTORY WORKERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 161, 9 July 1926, Page 5

DAIRY FACTORY WORKERS.

NEW AWARD ASKED FOR.

LESS HOURS, INCREASED WAGES

" Comparisons may be odious, but still they are instructive, and we find that in comparison with recent awards of the Court to other workers we are still | a long way behind, both in regard to wages and working conditions," said Mr. J. P. John, secretary of the Auckland Dairy Factor} , Workers' Union, in presenting the demands of that union to i the Arbitration Court this morning, with an application for a new award. The union asked that wage's should, be increased as follows:—First assistants, £4 19/0 to £5 10/(5; second assistants, £4 13/6 to £. r >; third assistants, £4 6/6 to £4 17/6; fourth assistants, £4 3/ to £4 13/; all other workers, £o 17/ to £4 10/. The Union's Demands. Mr. John contended that it was neither just nor reasonable to ask members of the union to work seven days a week of 5C hours in butter factories, and 60 hours a week in cheese factories. He said that a wage of £3 17/ a week for 60 hours' work was very poor recompense, and it was considered that a substantial increase should be givon to all workers under the award. As buttermakinjj and cheesemaking was a science, a first assistant i should receive the wages of a skilled worker; that second, third, and fourth assistants should receive increased wages, and that unskilled workers should be paid the Court's rate of 1/10 per hour. The wanes that tho union asked for were based as nearly as possible on a 4S hour week, being 51 hours for seven months of the year, and 44 ■ hours for five months of the year. They J claimed that the limit to a day's work j should be fixed at 9* hours, that extra | payment should be made for Sunday j work, that an extra week's holiday ; should be given to employees each year, | and that double time should be paid for holidays and Sunday work. A Bit of Heaven. Proceeding, Mr. John said tha-t the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company had made it a condition of employment that white overalls should be worn. It was a new condition imposed on worke-rs, and they did not know where it was going to end. If it were i a condition of employment a company should provide the clothes. "It's all very nice to have the workers in snowy white clothes." added Mr. John, '"but some assistance should be given by the companies." His Honor: It sounds like heaven. (Laughter.) Mr. John: We admit that wo would look better in white suits, but with a bib they cost 9/6, and the companies should provide the attire. No evidence was called in support of the union's demands. Case for Employers. On behalf of the employers, Mr. S. E. Wright said that the case for the union had been withdrawn, and that there had been no evidence in support of the claims.- The employers asked that the existing award should be renewed. It was necessary that in cheese factories there should be a 60-hour week. The employers asked that the clause regarding packing houses should be confined to butter factories only. The union's claims had beei. before the Court on four occasions, and the conditions had reached a fairly settled basis. William Kirkman, factory superintendent for the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, gave figures to show that there had been a falling off in the values of dairy products during the past three seasons. During the present season producers would be lucky if they got 18d for butterfat for butter making, and 19d for butt-erf at for cheese making. William Dickson, cheese superintendent for the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, said that a 60-hour week was essential all the year round for cheese making. They could not lessen the hours without paying overtime. The Court reserved its decision.