BAKERY DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 21, 26 January 1933, Page 3

BAKERY DISPUTE.

ULTIMATUM GIVEN.

WORK TO BE RESUMED.

BEFORE NEGOTIATIONS,

Negotiations for the settlement of the dispute in the bakery trade have failed to provide a mutual agreement, and this morning the Master Bakers' Association decided upon specific conditions under which negotiations with the union would continue. The secretary of the Master Bakers' Association this afternoon supplied the following resolution, which was passed lit a special meeting of the association this morning:—"That the operatives' union be notified that, pending the immediate return to work of the employees of Kent's Bakeries, Ltd., all negotiations with the union cease. The te -ins of Kent's Bakeries, Ltd., are the name as those accepted by Walter Buchanan, Ltd., such terms to remain in force for a period of 30 days pending negotiations between the Auckland Master Bakers' Association and the union with a view to a settlement."

The principal point during the dispute between the parties has been the matter of wages, and the verbal agreement under which the men arc working at Messrs. Buchanan's bakeries providers for a minimum wage of £4 10/ for journeymen. The penalty clause, which operates for night work between the hours of midnight and 4 a.m., provides for an extra 10/ a week, and also 1/ an hour additional when work commences before midnight. Effort at Settlement. Commenting on tl» position the secretary of the association said the masters had made every endeavour to reach an amicable settlement. A letter had been received from the union making it clear that provided any master baker would work his employees under the same terms as the agreement worked by Messrs. Buchanan, Ltd., the union would accept the position. In accordance with this the employees of Kent's Ltd., agreed with the manager of the company yesterday to resume work to-day. But subsequent to the employees of Kent's, Ltd., making this agreement the union held a further meeting and decided that the employees of Kent's, Ltd., should not resume work unless the agreement was signed immediately and was made binding for a period of 12 months. Supplies for Public. In view of the fact that protracted negotiations were held on Tuesday night between the master bakers and the employees, and that despite the employers conceding many points, and because the negotiations were not completed, it was impossible to finalise any agreement at that stage. "It is obvious, therefore," ho concluded, "that the union had made up its mind to. force the issue and put to one side the negotiations. The masters arc still ready to negotiate, and the public can rest assured that despite the present deadlock steps have been taken to secure adequate supplies to meet public requirements."