UNIONISTS' VIEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 116, 19 May 1939, Page 8

UNIONISTS' VIEWS.

KE EN SATISFACTION.

OBJECTIVE NOW IN SIGHT. SECRETARIES' COMMENTS. Satisfaction with the proposed bill as 1•1 ill ill within realisation a mea-ure which they had been advocating' for many veins, was expressed in Labour circles, when the details of the scheme were outlined. In the past, it was stated.

few '.'roups of winners had enjoyed two weeks' paid holiday a year, but in recent years workers here and there had succeeded in climbing even beyond this limit.

"It's just lovely, and will make a difference to all our girls." said Miss K. Cossey, secretary of the Tailorct-scs' I nion who explained that at present workers in the various branches of the clothing trade, includili'.' shirt and white workers, dressmakers, milliners and shop tailoresses. received only live days' annual holiday and the statutory holidays. which were ci'jlit. in number.

I In* fart, that tlir Inliilav period for inriiilkts of 11is union ranged from one week lo three weeks, was revealed by Mi'. <1. Matthews, secretary of the Auckland Drivers' I'nion. "We have three sections of workers," he "I'asscngor transport an<l service ear drivers rereive three consccntivo weeks" annual holiday; drivers operating vehicles licensed liy the Transport Licensing Authority under the floods service regulations, a fortnight; and all drivers engaged in town and suburban carting, one week. Loral l>odv drivers also receive one week's holiday, and all our workers are entitled to holidays except, casuals, who got no holidays at all. It. was not until I !).'{(!, however, that we were successful in petting the holidays now being granted.

"I would like to make this olwervation," concluded Mr. Matthews, "that in the event of the proposed legislation becoming law, steps should be taken to see that those now receiving in excess of two weeks' holiday will not receive less than at present." ' "This is the sort of thing we liave been lighting for for years," declared Mr. J. G. Kennerley, secretary of tho

Auckland Carpenters' Union. "At present carpenters do not get paid for any holidays, but men such as joiners in permanent position* receive the statutory holidays granted under the Factories Act."

"Usually furniture factories closc down for 14 days at Christmas time without payment of wages," stated Mr. A. If. Divon, secretary of the Furniture Trade* Union, "but npholntresses are granted five day*' holiday independent of statutory holidays. The proposed bill U something we have been hammering away at for years. In conciliation councils we have repeatedly pressed for an annual holiday provision, but frequently we have been told that, while the employers agreed with the principle of such holidays, it wa« a job for the Legislature. Now it looks as though the Legislature is going to act." "Sound and Necessary." "I think the proposed measure is sound «nd necessary." said Mr. VV. Miller, secretary of the Storemen V Union.. "There are anomalies in connection with holidays which require to l>e remedied. For instance, warehouse clerical workers and warehousemen get a fortnight's holiday, and storemen only a week's holiday. A substantial majority of workers throughout the Dominion will lie affected bv the bill should H become law."

"It sounds good." This was the comment of Mr. T. Stanley, secretary of the Auckland Builders and General Labourers' Union. "We have not been able to get holidays in several of our awards, but nationally we have been pressing for something to be done in a legislative way. The plan will be a big advance in the building trades."

"I think the bill is fairly sat is factory by the look of it," said Mr. H. Campbell. Hecretary of the Painters' Union. Fie explained tlmt the question of the hill had l>een mentioned at a meeting last evening of the district council of the Federation of Labour, and had been referred to the legislative eonimittec for consideration. The committee was requested to report before June 1, so that the decisions of the council could be forwarded to Wellington and Ik? in the hand* of a deputation from the federation which is to wait on the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, on June 0.