WAGES DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 1 September 1936, Page 8

WAGES DISPUTE.

. CLOTHING WORKERS.

HOLIDAY PAYMENT DEBATED

COURT DEFERS JUDGMENT.

The clothing trades Gmoloyees' industrial dispute and the shirt, silk and white workers' dispute were heard yesterday afternoon in the Arbitration Court. A partial settlement in each dispute had been reached in Conciliation Council. Mr. J. Roberts, of Christcliurch, with him Miss A. Cossey and Mr. E. B. Newton, appeared for the unions and Mr. T. 0. Bishop for the employers. Mr. Roberts said a definition was being sought of "clothing trades' and what classes of work were covered by the term. The ' unions were asking that the hours of work be S a.m. to $ p.m., Monday to Friday inclusive, and were opposed to shift work. In advocating the unions' demand for a weekly wage of £2 15/ for factory t'ailorijsses, Mr. Roberts said they were the hardest/ worked female workers in any Dominion industry. They had .to. machine a given number of garments in return for the wage fixed, and this was really a piecework system. Mr. Bishop said a new bonus clause had beeii agreed to to meet the situation.

i Mr. Newton stated the case for under pressers and seam pressers being included a ; s pressers under the award and receiving- £5 10/ a week.

Mr. Roberts said the unions sought two additional holidays a year, and double pay for Saturday work. Regarding the shirt, silk and white workers, the union .claimed the same rates for women cutters as for male cutters.

Mr. Bishop said the dyeing and dry cleaning companies sought exemption as they were run largely in'coimection with laundries.

Mr. A. L. Monteitli, 'employees' assessor, said the dyers - and dry cleaners could not be covered by the laundry award.

Evidence for the employers was given by B. G. Midgley, departmental manager of the Kaiapoi Woollen and Clothing Manufacturing Company, Christchurcli, A. J. T'„ Duncan] factory manager of that company, and G. S. Amos, governing director of G. S. Amos and Company, Limited. Wellington. Witnesses quoted ' figures showing the effect of. recent industrial legislation, and of overseas competition. Mr„ Bishop said the employers desired to retain practices of past awards. Tliey opposed wage increases aJid the holiday demands. An annual holiday should not be granted where all overtime had to be paid for, he submitted. Competition with overseas markets was an important question. 'The Court reserved its decision.