DISPUTE OVER AWARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 224, 21 September 1932, Page 9

DISPUTE OVER AWARD.

DAIRY FACTORY WORKERS. | • CONCILIATION COUNCIL. COMMISSIONER'S RULING. When a conciliation council met this morning under the chairmanship of Mr. P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, to hear an application for a new award filed by the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., Hamilton, the Cambridge Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., and the Norfolk Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd. (Morrinsville), the assessors for the Auckland Creameries and Cheese and Butter Factories' Industrial Union of Workers appeared under protest, contending that the hearing could not take place, as a cross-citation made by the union' prior to the passing of last session's legislation had not been disposed of. After a good deal of argument and a ruling, by the commissioner that the proceedings were in order, the assessors for the union decided to go on with the dispute, withdrawing their original cross-citation and proposing to hold to the old award, which expired in 1931, in all particulars except in respect to hours of work.

The employers' proposals included an all-round 10 per cent reduction in wages, an extension of the long-hour season for a month —two weeks at each end of the season—and the elimination of fixed hours in cheese factories. Hours and Wages. For butter factories the hours of work suggested were 50 per week of seven days from August 1 to March 31, and 44 hoiu-s from April 1 to July 31. The present hours were 56 a week from August 15 to March 15, and 44 for the other months, so that the effect of the suggested alteration was to add a month to the period in which more hours were worked.

There were to be no fixed hours for cheese factories. These would be fixed according to the time it took to make the cheeses. The present hours were 60 from August 14 to May 14, 48 from May 15 to June 16, and 38 hours from June 17 to August 13.

It was proposed to pay youths under 20 starting at manufacture 15/ a week for the first year, 22/6 for the second, and .30/ for the third. Thereafter award rates would apply. At present the wages for youths, which were paid on a different basis, ranged from £1 0/3 for boys between 15 and 10 up to £2 7/3 for youths of 19.

The employers' assessors were Messrs. F. H. Anderson, T. O. Bishop, W. Y. Kirkman and N. H. Madson. The workers' assessors were Messrs. J. Johns and R. Fulton.

When the preliminary objection was raised by Mr. Johns, Mr. Bishop said the workers could go on with the case by sticking to the terms of the old award. He wanted to know if they intended to be obstructionists.

Mr. Fulton said that was not in their minds, but a certain legal position had arisen. He was unaware of the position until he arrived in Auckland that morning, after travelling all night. Legal Rights. Mr. Bishop said that the employers could stand on the legal position and have the clerk of awards notified that no agreement had been arrived at, and that would mean that the award would expire in a month's time after notification. Mr. Fulton said the men did not desire to fall out with the employers. An agreement was wanted. Mr. Bishop said he had never raised technical points in his dealings with the workers. Mr. Hally advised the men to go on with the hearing. He had to rule against the respondent union in respect to the citation quoted. The proceedings were in order. Mr. Fulton wished to know, in the event of going on with the hearing, whether the employers were serious with all their proposals. Mr. Bishop: Yes, but we are willing to discuss them. Dispute Over Hours. Mr. Johns said the employers wanted to put the clock back 100 years. Mr. Bishop: Two hundred, perhaps. Mr. Johns said it seemed as if they were to go back to the days of white arid even black slavery. Mr. Bishop said that the proposals in respect to hours did not necessarily mean longer hours in the aggregate. Some days they would work longer and at other times shorter hours.

Mr. Fulton: Then why have a clause to work the round of the clock ? The men would have to work 10 or 18 hours in cheese factories. Mr. Bishop said he would have to protest against the remarks that had been passed. The case would either have to be considered properly as before the council, or they would have to declare that no agreement had been arrived at. There must either be proper proceedings or none. The workers' assessors retired to discuss the position in private, and on returning notified the Commissioner that they were prepared to go on with the hearing. , Cheese Factory Hours. Discussion then took place in respect to the work and conditions in cheese factories. It was contended on behalf of the workers that much of the difficulty in respect to long hours could be eliminated if the farmers delivered their milk earlier at the factories.

(Proceeding.)