WAGES OF SCHOOL CARETAKERS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21938, 12 November 1936, Page 14

WAGES OF SCHOOL CARETAKERS

—- Complaint That Some Are Underpaid COMPARISONS WITH BASIC WAGE That school caretakers are grossly underpaid was the unanimous opinion of the delegates present at a meeting of the Canterbury School Cofnmittees’ Association held last evening. A recommendation from the executive of the association to the general meeting read as follows: — “That in the opinion of this association many primary school caretakers have been grossly underpaid. We have expressed grateful appreciation of the recent increase in the capitation allowance, yet it is found that in the larger schools where caretakers are employed for the major portion of their time, committees are unable to increase wages to the level of the basic wage. This association therefore respectfully suggests that for schools of grade 5 and above caretakers should hold full-time positions, any time not required for cleaning to be devoted to maintaining and improving the grounds. Further, that the difference between the payments now made and the basic wage be paid out of the vote for education.” Mr J. G. Brown; A wise and humane step. Average Wages The chairman, Mr T. Nuttall, said that he had made enquiries and found that caretakers in grade 7 schools, working on the average 46 J hours a week, received on the average £2 8s lOd. The highest wage was £ 3 10s, and the lowest £ 1 14s. Grade 6 schools paid their caretakers an average wage of £ 2 2s. Mr Nuttall said that no allowance had been made in his calculations for caretakers’ cottages, as the capitation was granted quite irrespective of such cottages. Some of these caretakers did no outside work. Mr J. Butterfield; It is not true that all caretakers are underpaid. Some of them are definitely well paid' men when allowance is made for free cottages, gas, electricity, firing, etc. Mr T. A. Langford: I respect Mr Butterfield’s experience, and his grey Hairs, but I must disagree with him. What is the position of the school committees in paying caretakers less than the basic wage for such long hours? The chairman: That is what we want to know. It is absurd' to say that a man who works 57 hours a week and is paid £3 with a free cottage, is well paid“A Job for the Government” Mr E. S. H. Buchanan: I consider that this is a. job for the Government. After all it is their property. Let them fix the conditions under which caretakers are to work. The committees themselves will never be ■ able to agree on the subject. Mr Langford: It is obviously the intention of the Government that these men should be paid the basic wage, and it should be embodied in the law to make the policy of the Government consistent. The chairman; It would be much more economical if each caretaker, at least in the larger schools, were to have a full-time position. It is plainly better to pay one man a fulltime salary than to pay a part-time caretaker and relief workers as well. The Government has to find the rnpney whichever way it is done. After some further discussion a motion adopting the recommendation pf the executive as a resolution was put to the meeting and carried unanimously.