INCREASED WAGES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21324, 17 November 1934, Page 16

INCREASED WAGES

WORKERS IN TIMBER AND COAL YARDS NEW AWARD ISSUED An increase in the wages of tailersout at saw-benches and of timber and coal yard labourers of Jd an hour has been awarded by the Arbitration Court. The other workers covered by the North Canterbury timber yards, sawmills, and coal yards employees' award had received a similar increase by agreement in the Conciliation Council recently, but settlement of the wages of tailers-out and yard labourers was referred to the Arbitration Court. During the sitting of the court last week the employers submitted that the tailers-out and yard labourers had not suffered a decrease in wages proportional to other workers and were therefore not entitled to the full id increase given to other employees. ..,-,• In accordance with the court's decision, tailers-out, if over the age of 21 years, will now receive Is 7£d an hour, a corresponding increase also being made in the cases of timber and coal yard labourers. First-class machinists in sawmills will receive Is lOd an hour, and second-class machinists Is 9id. Other workers at machines are defined as workers over the age of 21, and who are employed on work involving a lower degree of skill than the two other classes.- They will receive Is 7d an hour. In a memorandum attached to the award his Honour Mr Justice Frazer says that the court has provided a definition of "other workers at machines," which would obviate the possibility of the recurrence of cases of highly-skilled joiners' machinists being employed on highly-skilled work at lower rates than those of secondclass machinists. The award, which will come into force on November 26 and continue in operation until December 31, 1935, has settled the rates of tailers-out, timber yard labourers, and coal yard labourers. In other respects it incorporates the recommendations of the Conciliation Council.