OBJECTION TO PIECEWORK

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22336, 25 February 1938, Page 14

OBJECTION TO PIECEWORK

PROPOSED AWARD CLAUSE REJECTED BY UNION COACH-BUILDERS’ DISPUTE REFERRED TO COURT (press ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, February 24. Strong opposition to the retention of a piecework clause in an award was expressed on behalf of the workers at the hearing of the Wellington, Canterbury, and Westland coach-workers’ dispute in Conciliation Council to-day. In spite of assurances that the employers did not seek any unfdir advantage from the clause, there was no agreement on the question, which was referred to the Arbitration Court for argument, together with other points in the dispute. The piecework clause objected to reads: “Piecework may be worked in any branches of the trade, provided that the rates so fixed shall be such as will secure the competent worker at least 10 per cent, more than the minimum or ordinary rate prescribed by this award as the case may be.” A statement by an employer’s assessor that the Government favoured piecework was emphatically denied by Mr Glover for the union. He said it was the very point on which the Waihi strike was fought, and some of the present Ministers of the Crown took a prominent part in it. Public works were not conducted on piecework, but on the co-operative contract system. He claimed that the piecework system set an unfair general standard. LITTLE PROGRESS IN DOMINION DISPUTE (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, February 24. An application by the coach and motor-body builders and related trades for a Dominion award was heard in Conciliation Council in Wellington today. Little progress had been made when the council adjourned till April 6. Agreement was reached on minor points only, there being a wide disparity between the wages asked and offered.