FREEZING WORKS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20678, 15 October 1932, Page 14

FREEZING WORKS.

PROPOSED WAGES AND CONDITIONS. COMPANIES ISSUE STATEMENT. The following statement concerning the Freezing Workers' Award has been issued by the freezing companies:— "In connexion with the Freezing Workers' Aw.\rd, meetings have been held in all industrial districts with tho object of arriving at a settlement of new terms and conditions for the forthcoming season; these meetings have not produced any agreement, and the award will automatically expire in the Canterbury industrial district the first week in November. Employers Unanimous. "Employers throughout the Dominion are at one in regard to the terms and conditions which should apply as from the bogiuning of the new season, and have now made them public. It may be said that they have slightly modified their wage proposals since the last meeting with the unions, and have mot somo of the objections raised by the unions in regard to proposed conditions. "Tho new terms and conditions will come into operation throughout the North Island on and after October 17th; in Canterbury, Otago, and Southland about November Ist at most works, and in Marlborough about November 10th. "It is difficult to state exactly the average percentage reduction in wages proposed, but it is calculated to be from 10 per cent, to 1.1. per cent. In the case of the more highly-paid men the percentage reduction is more; in tho case of Iho lower-paid worker, Jens. For example, it is proposed to pay slaughtermen .">os per hundred for sheep and 27s per hundred for lambs; this is a reduction of from ICJ per cent, to 20 per cent. In the case of slaughterhome assistants, it is proposed to reduce the hourly rate from Is IOJd to Is !>jd. a reduction of less than "} per cent.; freezers from 2s o.}d to Is IOJd, a reduction of 7J per cent; and general hands from Is ~\Qh'i to Is Od, a reduction of (U per cent. Hourly Workers. "Provision has been made for hourly workers for overtime rates to be paid for all time worked in excess of eight hours, between 7.30 a.m. and n p.m. on five days of the week, and four hours between 7..'10 a.m. and 12 noon on Saturday, on the basis of time and a quarter for the first two hours rind time and a half thereafter.

''l'nder 1)io new conditions it is estimated that when working full time, slaughtermen will lie able to earn from 27s 1o :;0 S a dnv. pullers from 28s to .'Jos a day, slaughterhouse assistants 14s fid a day, plus overtime, general hands 14s a day, plus overtime, and freezers rather more.

"As regards the general conditions, very few important alterations have been made; the conditions, however, have been rodraftod, and it is I el'eved are now in a much more simple form than previously."