CLOTHING WORKERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 37, 13 February 1931, Page 5

CLOTHING WORKERS.

RISE IN WAGES SOUGHT. ARBITRATION COURT ISSUES. A memorandum of partial recommendation made by a council of conciliation in November affecting Auckland cutters, trimmers and pressors and other clothing trade workers was submitted by the union for investigation by the .Arbitration Court to-day, with a viewto finalising the award. Replying to the president of the Court (Mr. Justice Frazer), Mr. W. S. Moxsom, in support of the application, stated that until recently the tailoresses and the cutters and pvesscrs had been subject to one award, although separate organisations. The cutters and pressors, at the expiry of the agreement, decided to seek a new and separate award. The main claims were for a rise of twopence per hour in the wages of male workers, payment for all holidays, weekly employment and a week's notice on either side for termination of employment. For the employers, Mr. S. E. Wright, said the employers did not oppose the separate award for cutters and pressors, but 1t did not appear to be necessary, As all parties in these two awards were included in the present application, it was regarded as an attempt to force employers to employ male pressors to perform light pressing now done by female workers: With regard to machinists the employers suggested an hourly wage with a reduction of twopence per hour, equal to 8A per cent, to meet the lull cost of living. Mr. Moxsom said this was no reason why employees should have to "bear the brunt." The Court reserved its decision.