PRESERVING TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 233, 1 October 1936, Page 8

PRESERVING TRADE.

NEW AWARD MADE. LONGER HOURS IN SUMMER. WAGES VARY AS TO SEASON. The Arbitration Court, in an order making a new award for Auckland fruit preserving and vegetable canning employees, has fixed a five-day 40-hour week in the slack season and a six-day 44-hour week in the busy period. The principal matters referred to the Court related to hours of work, wages, overtime, holidays, and general conditions. The award, which will become operative throughout the Northern Industrial District on October 12, and remain in force for a year, does not apply to workers engaged in preserving and/or packing meat and/or fish products, or to workers employed under the wholesale storemen and packers' award. The hours of work during the summer months (November 1 fc> April 30) shall be 44 weekly, to be worked between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on five days and 8 a.m. and noon on Saturdays, and during the winter months (May 1 to October 31), 40, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays inclusive. In the busy season night shifts may be worked for the pulping of tomatoes, and workers employed on such shifts shall be paid 2/ a shift extra. Overtime will be at the rate of time and half for the first three hours in any day and double time thereafter, or 1/0 an hour, which ever is the greater. For the purpose of computing the overtime rate of pay during the 44-hour week period the additional payment of 10 per, cent shall be deemed to form part of the ordinary wage.

Details of New Wages. Wages for adults are: Working foremen, £4 15/ and £5 5/ during the 40 and 44-liour weeks respectively; general hands, over 21, £4 and £4 8/. Youths: First six months, 18/0; second, £1 2/0; third, £1 7/0; fourth, £1 15/; third year, £2 2/0; fourth, £2 12/0; fifth, £3 2/0; and thereafter rate for adult general Female workers: First six months, 15/; second, 19/; third, £1 3/; fourth, £1 7/; fifth, £1 11/; sixth, £1 15/; fourth year, £2; thereafter £2 5/. In the case of youths and female workers there will be an additional payment of 10 per cent, during the 44hour week period. Casual adult; male workers shall be paid 2/3 an hour. The provisions of the Factories' Actj 1921-22, and its amendments relating to holidays and. holiday payments shall apply. In all cases where a bonus is paid, the basis on which the bonus is calculated shall be negotiated between | representatives of the workers concerned and the employer. In factories where a bonus operation is in operation no deduction shall be made from the bonus vin respect of any prescribed holidays. The general conditions include provisions that the . proportion of: youths to male workers shall not exceed one youth to each fcwo adults, restrictions op weights to be lifted by women and boys, the •supplying of gum boots and gloves for Certain workers, and payment of tea money, 1/0, where 24 hours' notice is not given of overtime to be worked after & p.m.