SLAUGHTERMEN'S ASSISTANTS' DISPUTE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12896, 30 August 1907, Page 8

SLAUGHTERMEN'S ASSISTANTS' DISPUTE.

The North Canterbury 6laught<H> men's Assistants' Industrial union cited a number of employers, «nd asked for an award. Mr Thorn appeared for tho Union, Mr Wayniouth for tho Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, and Mr Murray for the Christchursh Meat Company. Mr Them said that a conference had been held that morning, and tho employers had offered to accept the conditions of the Gieborne award. The Union had offered to accept Is per hour all round, and waive ail demands for overtime, if tho employers conceded the Is per hour. The employers, in accepting the Gisborne award, wished to bo allowed four hours on »U holidays for killing for local consumption. Tho difference between tho Union and tho employers woe infinitesimal, and it was not worth while calling a greet deal of evidence on it. After a short conference with the men, Mr Thorn said thnt they would accept tho Gieborne award. Mr Waymouth said that the employers accepted this, subject to the inclusion of conditions relating to holidays included in tho slaughtermen's award.

Tho conditions were included, and tho award made as agreed to. '

The cUu6O relating to wages was made retrospective, to date- from February 19th. The award will have a currency of two years from September 30th next.

ibo conditions embodied in tho award are:—A'o time fixed for start or finish of work, and overtime to be paid after eight hours. Minimum wage for workers aged twenty-one and over 7a 6d per day of eight hours; provision is made for payment of youths, the scale ascending from 12s for boys of fourteen, to £1 15s to youths ai twenty. Overtime to bo paid at tho rate of time and a quarter all through. Incompetent workers may be employed at lew than the minimum, if application is approved by the Chairmen of the' Conciliation Board. Preference' to be given to Unionist*, provided that there ie equality of ability. and readiness to undertake the work offered. The King'e Birthday, Good Friday, Easier Monday, Labour Day, Show Day, Christmas Day. Prince of Weles'e Birthday,, and Boxing Day to be observed as holidays. Work done on Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday to bo paid at double ratea; on other holidays time and a half. The employers to bare tTie right to employ men four hours on holidays at ordinary rates for chop killing. * , ; lOTERFRETATIONB. Mr Brice, vioe-president of the Slaughtermen's llnion. waited on the Court to request an interpretation of a clause in the award. ■ :

The point was put to the Court by Mr Waj-mouth, wlio *aid that' to* award bad been, ootetrued to direct that work should start at 7 a.m. XJm.j intention of the agreement wee that work should start at 7 a.m. in the busy season, - and- thai at other .times the employer* could etart at 8 a.m., The companies had been starting at 8 a.m:, and. he understood that the .union had been advised that the companies, liad been practically breaking the agrwt ment. '■■■■: '■■ '-. ■ ->■ ' ■■■■;' t^t-^';-; f . Hie Honour said that a smppfanipt'i ary agreement might be &*d U> ty»l& the point -quite'^lear.■■'. ' : }Tb&?p&turt interpreted it as meaning that !i work was not to be starM < "earlier than ! 7 a.m. •.. ■■'/■■><:<■ ■■•'. ■"•■■ ■*■■■<* t , Mr Brice asked > the Court. to add a J clause to the award fixing tile starting hour at not later than 8,a.m.; bat this was objected; to by Mr Murray,■"-;. ';• : His- Honour eaid that if the Union wanted to fix an hour to start; that was a matter for a freeh agreement. Mr Brice also asked for an intcrpre-' tat ion of clause , 6, which provided that in case of a "axtt out"«the men should wait fifteen minutes, and thereafter receive Iβ per hour a* a waiting allowance. Ho desired to know whether' in case •. an. hour's delay eiwued, tne men would be paid for an hour or three-quarters. ' •; ■. ■ '■■■■'■■■'■':■'■'.l^'<'}'' ' His # Honour eaid tJiat nothing would be paid for the firit fifteen minutes. .TALLOW SANDS V ; The North Canterbury Manure, Tallow, Oleo arid all oute;ide: freering ,works employeee' Industrial Union of Workers v. the employers, art application for an awerd. Mr Thorn peared for the Union, and Messrs Waymouth and Murray tor the employers. It was announce" that an agreement liad been come, to on a number of points, , rosnlting in the adoption of the following' provisions:—-No time fixed for start or finish, of work, and overtime to ho .paid after eight; hours' •work. A. worker who was ordered to attend the works, and having attended did not get work, to receive one' hour's pay. All overtime to be paid at the rate of time and a quarter. Hclidaye to bo New Year , * Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Pnnce ol Wales's Birthday, Boxing I>ay, King's Birthday, and Picnic r* Bay. Work done on Christmas Day and Good Friday paid at double rates; time and' a half for all other holidays. In regard to incompetents, the Chairman of the Conciliation Board to fix the rate, if an agreement is not come to. Wages !to bo paid fortnightly, in the manner now prevailing. . Preference to be given to Unionists, on the usual conditions. , !

3lr Thorn said that th© Court irouki he asked to fix the minimum wage, and the rate of overtime on Sunday*. In regard to overtime, the «mploye» offered time and a Half, and the Union demanded double time. The work wee so disagreeable and hard that the men could not eeo their way to accept less than Is per hoar. The award would i cover the hands employed in the tal- j low, manure, oleo, and.general labouring department. The present rate or pay was IOJd per hour. Several -witnesses employed in the various departments gave evidence. Tho employers did not call witnesses. Mr Waymouth . said that. in the Gieborno* award the unclaesified labourer* were paid IOJd p<»r hour. An agreement had been made with the workmen et Paroora and Smitbfield, under which all the men got IOJd, and time and a quarter for overtime. No doubt some of the work w«w dieagreeeble, but tho men wanted to get into these departments, as they had very little, broken time. Under the Gi»borne award fat end tflHow hands got Tβ 6d, gennrsil labourers 7e, and manure hands Bs. In regard to overtime on Sundays, the employers paid time and a half, and an award for double time would eorionsly handicap the company. The work was done only to prevent nuisances, nnd cave deterioration of products. Mr Murray ileo addressed the Court. Ho thought that oleo workers should be exempted from the oward. as the work wee practically unobjectionable. .Mr Thorn said that the South Canterbury agreement wne very unsatisfactory. It W3S strange that it shonJd bo filed just before the hearing of this caee. Decision wee reserved.