CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15766, 6 December 1916, Page 4

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

FI-r.LMONCERS' DISPUTE

| The dispute between the Tanners, Fellmongers, and Skinners' Industrial Union, and tho employers, came before the Conciliation Council yesterday, Mr J. H. Tri-ggs, Commissioner, presiding. Tno employers were represented by Messrs F. Cooper. T. T. Robson, and C. M. Ollivier, the employees by Messrs \V. E. "Woodham, I*'. Warren, and W. :\lcKuight. The Union's claims comprised a demand foi 1 a 4a hours' week. Alternate shifts of eight hours may be worked on not more than six consecutive days of alternate weeks. Thirty minutes to be-allowed out of each slvitr without de. duction of wage*. No worker under 21 years of age to be allowed on morning" or evening shifts. Extra rates wore demanded for work after ordinary closing time. The rates of wages as claimed were: Woolsorters, Is 7,Jd per hour; piecework, merino Is Id per hundredweight, crossbred lld per hundredweight. Improvers were allowed to be employed for not more than two years at not less than Is 3d per hour; pullers Is 7id per hour. Piecework: All longwool skins 7Jd pc-r skin, others (3Jd per hour. Pelt classers Is 7id per hour, pelt carers Is 7Yd per hour, painters and trimmers Is Gd per hour, double-handed painting 2s !'d per 100 skins. Machine fleshers and scudders — Packers Is 4Jd, piecework in packing | llid por bale. j Hand fleshers and scudders Is -lid. machine splitters Is 6d per hour, machine shaving hands Is Gd ppr hour, hide beamsmen Is od per hour, operatives of hide fleshing, mihairing, and •tcudding machines Is 6(1 per hour, leather rollers Is . r >d per hour, lime doilvmen K Od per hour, skin washers Is 6d per hour. Other sorts of labour Is 4Jd oer hour, and all workers, except where otherwise specified. Is -lid per hour- - The wages of boys were claimed as follows: —15 to 1G years 1,7s Gd a week, 16 to 17 21s a week. 17 to 18 years 2os. 18 to 19s lOd per hour, 19 to 20 Is per hour. The ftivst clauses as to hours were adopted, also the clauses in the old award relating to holidays. Considerable discussion arose on the question of wages. It was suggested that all the classes of labour employed be divided into three: Is 6d, Is 4}d, and Is 3d. or 12s, lis. and 10s a day. The employers decided to introduce a fourth class of wages, making them 12s. lis. 10s 6d, and 10s a day. The parties agreed to the following scale of wages:—Chrome tanners, -wool sorters, pullers, pelt elaesers and pelt drivers. Is 6d per hour. Machine hide fleshers. nnhairers and skudders. machine shaving hands, machine splitters, hand fleshers and packers. Is 4d per hour. T/cather rollers, beamsmen. man in charge _of -wool-scouring machine, chrome glainers. strikers, pelt fleshing machinists, painters and trim- | mers. Is 3Jd per hour. Men over 55 year s of ago. unable to earn full pay, llid per hour, all other workers over the age of 21 Is 3d per \ hour. The agreement will come into force on January Ist. and remain in operation till April 13th, 1919.