FISHERY TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 194, 17 August 1936, Page 8

FISHERY TRADE.

WAGES AND HOURS. CASE FOR ARBITRATION. PARTIES FAIL TO AGREE. The Auckland Fish Trade Employees' (other than fishermen's) Union sought a 40-hour five-day week, with minimum wages of £.) 5/ for ordinary adult workers and £5 12/G for smokers, freezers or ice room hands, in conciliation council to-day, before Mr. P. Hally, commissioner. For the union Messrs. A. McKenzie (secretary), J. Sutton (president), A. Jenkinson and A. Taylor appeared as assessors. The employers' representatives were Messrs. W. E. Anderson, A. G. Fisher, J. J. Enwright and A. F. Bow. In addition to asking for a 40-hour week and wage increases, the union sought payment of casual labour at 3/0 per hour and overtime at time and a half for the first two hours after the completion of a shift, and double time for all time worked after that. The employers proposed adherence to the present scale of wages (£4 10/ and £4 15/), a 44-liour week, and overtime at time and a half for the first four hours and double time after that. Mr. Anderson said that the employers wished to hold to the present conditions with regard to hours. These were that the men should work 8J hours between 0 a.m. and G p.m. for day workers, and G p.m. and G a.m. for night workers. Mr. McKenzie pointed out that the companies operating in Auckland could call a mail back to work as long as he had had a 12-hour break. This was hardly fair. The employees' suggestion was that eight hours should be worked between the hours of 7.30 a.m. and 5 p.m., and 5 p.m. and 7.30 a.m. As for wages, the employees were determined to adhere to their original proposals. Mr. Bow: Many deliveries to such institutions as hospitals have to be made before G a.m., and fish for country districts has to be at the railway station before six o'clock. Mr. Enwright: The employees must realise that fishery firms would pay more if they could. Competition from the south and from overseas trawlers operating in Xew Zealand waters has to be met and this will be even greater in the future. Mr. McKenzie: You have nothing to fear from that competition. Mr. Bow: We are speaking from actual facts and know from the balance-sheets that the various companies cannot pay more. The parties were unable to reach agreement on the major points in the claims, and the case was referred to the Arbitration Court.