WOOLLEN MILLS AWARD.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14326, 11 April 1912, Page 2

WOOLLEN MILLS AWARD.

*"° Arbitration Court has made its award in t [ lo industrial dispute between the Canterbury woollen mills workers and the employers (Kaiapoi. limaru, and Ashburton). The chiei points are as follow :— Hours of Work—Forty-eight hours constitute a week's wor |-. ji oars ot working at night shall b« arranged between the mill manager and the ina- • ,ont^,.ot th -> night workers. Should ■a public holiday intervene, the time lest, by any worker through such holiday s'lall be de/luoted irom the fortyeight hours, and not from the overlime. Any time lost by any worker through his or her own* default shall bo dedueUxl from overtime. Overtime—Overtime rates: Time and a quarter for the first four hours.: time and a half afterwards, until starting time nest morning. Double time for Sundnys and holidays prescribed in the. Factories Act.

Where, owing to slackness of work or the exigency of trade, it is necessary to work short time, the employer shall distribute the work as cve'niv as possible, and workers shall be paid only tor time woiked. Preference is granted and provision :s made for under-rate workers. AVagos—Girls on weekly wages; P'irst year Ss, second year lis, third year lis, fourth ycnr*_os, and thereafter a minimum of 25s per week. 803-S and youths: From 11 to 15 years Bs, 15 to 10 years lis. IB to 17 vtars lis, 17 to 18 years 17s od. IS to li) years 22s o_, 10 to 20 years 27s Od, 20 to 21 years .'Jos. and thereafter a minimum wage- of -los rcr week. Boys and youths on night dork: From 10 to W years 255, 19 to 20 yeans :50s, 20 to 21 years 375. and thereafter a minimum of 48s por week- Maie workers over 21 years employed a--wages hands: AA'ool sorters 00s. tuners /s(>s, warpers -SOs, pattern ' weavers (hand loom) 48s, spinners oOs. carpenters GOs, blacksmiths 00s. all other ■workers 455. Moisory hands: The rate for time workers shall bo as hereinbefore prescribed. Piece-workers (male and female): Present rates to continue. Weavers: Where one weaver attends to two looms, the following deductions shall l>e made from tin* piece-workers.- lo per cent, on rugs, tweeds and fancy worsteds, and U-'l 1-3 per cent, on all other lines. Tho award comes into force on May oth, 1012, and continues in force until .May oth, 1914. In a memorandum the Court says: — This award is based for the most part on the award of HIO2. Tho principal alterations are:—(l) An increase in the wages of female workers in the unskilled departments, (2) An increas;* of fts a week in the minimum vage for the lowest paid adult workers. In view of the evidence adduced by tho employers as to the condition of the industry, the Court- did not feel justified in increasing the minimum for any of the skilled workers, although that minimum may appear low when compared with that paid to other skilled workers- The mill workers, however, have the advantage of regular work all the year round. (3) Preference has been granted to union members. (4) Provision has been made for the case 01 weavers working two looms.