DISSATISFIED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 280, 26 November 1938, Page 13

DISSATISFIED.

THEATRE WORKERS. NEW AWARD CRITICISED. REMOVES PRESENT BENEFITS? Cleat discontent has been caused among theatre workers by their awaid. which has just been written by the Arbitration Court, according to a statement issued by Mr. W. T. Quealy, secretary of the Auckland Houses of Entertainment and Places of Amusement Employees' Industrial I'nion of Workers. Certain proposals of the executive "ill be discussed in connection with the new award at a special meeting of the union, which is to be held next week. "The Court has now issued an award which not only destroys many of the benefit* that the workers had previously enjoyed, but also introduces certain un desirable provisions into the award, for which neither the employers nor the union asked," the statement snv«. "For instance, the Court- has made provision for the employment of youths, although the employers made no claims in respect of youths. Ihe Court." the statement goes on. "had also extended the principle of engagement at performance rates, instead of weekly engagements, in spite of t lie faet that in a former pronouncement the Court expressed the opinion that the principle of weekly engagements should De extended. The award increased the hours of ticket-sellers by half an hour each performance, and allowed an increase of sixpence a performance. "The award also allows cashiers engaged on a weekly wage to be worked 40 minutes longer on any one day with out payment of overtime," the' statement concludes. "Caretakers in the citv area receive an increase of three shillings weekly, the first increase since 102'!. although the Court had previously established a standard of live shilling's increc.se over the 1031 rates. The award also makes a reduction in 11„. overtime rates of female workers on a weekly wage. The rates set by, the Court are lower than those offered bv the employers iii their counter-proposals."