SAWMILL WORKERS' WAGES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21775, 6 May 1936, Page 16

SAWMILL WORKERS' WAGES

CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS

(PRBSS ASSOCIATION TZLEGRAM.)

PALMERSTON NORTH, May 5

Important proceedings governing the conditions of employment in the, timber industry of most of the North Island were taken to-day. when a Conciliation Council considered proposals of the employing companies, and counter-proposals of the employees' unions for the terms of a new award to apply to South Auckland, Taranaki, and Wellington districts. More than 3000 workers and a large number of mills are involved. Tr . unions are pressing for a 40-hour week, but the millers claim that they can establish a case for exemption under the projected legislation. The employers agreed to allow time and a half for overtime on other than holidays, and extra rates for night work, and submitted a schedule of hourly rates for wages from Is 9Jd to Is 6|d. T. counter-proposals were for wages on a weekly basis, the lowest paid men to receive £4 10s. This is a major contention of the unions. During the proceedings the employers agreed to increase their schedule by l£d for all classifications, but the weekly basis is to be further discussed. The unions are seeking 10 days' holiday on pay yearly. The employers said that this was equivalent to Id an . hour additional wages. It was stated by the employers that if every concession demanded by the workers were to be granted, the result must inevitably be an increase in prices, and so in the cost of living.

The proceedings were adjourned till to-morrow.