WAGES CLAIM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 185, 6 August 1936, Page 5

WAGES CLAIM.

FURNITURE TRADES

" SMOKE - OH " ASKED FOR. EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN. A dispute between the Auckland United Furniture Trades Union (flock, felt and spring workers' section) and the employers, Eureka Flock Mills, Takle Bros., and Tattersfields, Ltd., was heard before the conciliation commissioner, Mr. P. Hally, this morning.

Assessors for the employers were Messrs. C. C. Ewen, J. Grant, >S. Takle and W. E. Anderson and for the union Messrs. A. IT. Dixon, R. Takle, R. C'olcord and A. Monks.

The employers offered a minimum rate of wa-jes for male workers over 21 of 1/10 an hour, male workers under 21 and female workers to be employed in accordance with the provisions of the Factories Act. and hours of work, overtime, holidays and meal money to be in accordance with the Act.

The union asked for a 40-hour week, to be worked between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on five days of the week, with a minimum of 45 minutes for lunch after 4.1 hours' work.

The wages scale asked for was: Workers responsible for carrying out the work and who give instructions to other workers should be paid not less than £0 10/ a week; minimum wages for spring makers and spring packers should be £(i a week; workers employed washing, sterilising, sorting, cutting and operating flock and felt machines should be paid £5 10/ a week. Apprentices might be employed at spring making under the provisions of the furniture trades apprenticeship order. Double rates were asked for holidays.

The following holidays with full pay, were asked for: Christmas Day to January 0, both days inclusive; Anniversary Day, Good Friday,. Easter Saturday. Easter Monday, Anzac Day, King's Birthday, and Labour Day. For work done on Sundays or any of these days, double time should be paid, and if any of these holidays should fall on a Sunday the following Monday should be recognised as the holiday.

Among tlie general conditions asked for were 15 minutes' "smoke-oil," morning and afternoon; reasonable time and facilities for workers to wash at lunch and knocking-off time; a suitable lunchroom, with boiling water provided; treble time in addition to ordinary rates (that is four times) for cleaning dust boxes; all tools provided by employers; one week's notice of termination of employment by either side; and the right of the union secretary to enter premises at all times. Employers' Objections. Citing the employers' objections to the scale of wages asked for, Mr. Anderson said that the workers were practically unskilled, and unless the union reduced its claims little progress towards agreement would be, made. The employers were prepared to offer the 1931 rates, with Id an hour more for spring makers, as being semi-skilled. They would not apxec to apprenticeship, as the trade took only a month or two to learn, but wanted provision for the employment of junior and female workers under the Factories Act.

"It is an insult to class men who are running flock machines as labourers," Mr. Dixon protested. "It is a job that requires skill. We are opposed also to the introduction of women. That is an innovation only two or three months old. They are not suitable for the work, which includes the handling of heavy bales."

Mr. S. Takle said that women had been employed in Wellington for years.

Mr. Grant said that women were more skilful than men at sorting different fabrics.

Mr. Dixon: You admit that skill is necessary, yet you want to pay only the miserable pittance fixed by the Factories Act.

Mr. Anderson: You cannot call the Factories Act rates a miserable pittance. They are good wages, and the conditions of the Act are very liberal indeed.

Mr. Dixon: They are still a mere pittance. They are the minimum, not a maximum. Women coming into the industry will displace men if the employers can get them cheaper, and we therefore will not discuss their admission on the Factories Act scale. We will agree to boys, if the number is limited.

Mr. Anderson: I think your chances of getting more than the Factories Act rates for juniors are not bright. Dangers of Factory Smoking. The union's demand for a "smoke-oli" morning and afternoon were explained by Mr. Dixon as arising from the fact that to strike a light in the midst of flock was dangerous, but some men took the risk. Allowing time off for a smoke would safeguard the premises.

Mr. Anderson said that time off for smoking and for washing would reduce the working day by an hour, and the week to 35 hours. The employers would agree to the 40-liour week, but could not afford to consider a 35-hour week.

It was decided to refer the questions of wages, and "dirt money," holidays and the nnion secretary's right of entry to premises to the Arbitration Court.

The meeting was adjourned to allow the assessors to discuss other clauses.