AWARD DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 81, 5 April 1941, Page 5

AWARD DISPUTE.

AMMUNITION COMPANY CASE. Claims to recover sums of £10 from tlio Colonial Ammunition Company, Ltd., for each of two alleged breaches of the Northern. Taranaki, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago and Southland Metal Trades Award were made by Mr. N". V. Dyett, inspector of awards in the Arbitration Court yesterday. One claim was m|Scie on the ground that the company, hsMnpr bound by thc award, had employed eight workers ae tradesmen in the general engineering division and failed to pay the award rate of 2/9 an hour, plus the cost of living bonus. It was further claimed that the company had failed to allow female employees paid 10-minute Jbreake each morning and afternoon as provided for in the award.

Mr. Justice Tyndall presided and with him were Messrs. j. Montrith and W. Cecil Prime. Mr. W. E. Anderson, secretary to the Auckland Provincial Employers' Association, represented the company, and Mr. Tuck was present on behalf of the union.

It was held by the Department of Labour that the men concerned in the first claim were covered by the metal traders award and were entitled to receive an average of about 2d an hour above fho amount they were being paid, said Mr. Dyett. Similarly, it. was claimed that the female employees, were covered l>v the award.

Mr. Anderson submitted iliat the company was in no way bound by the metal trades award. If female employees were allowed their claim for 10 minute* break morninj? and afternoon, the company's munitions output would be reduced by 7 per cent. Two shifts would be affected, and the time required for the, restarting of machined must bo taken into consideration. It was not necessary to strese how eerioiiti that would be at the present time. The caee will bo resumed on Monday.