LONGER WORKING WEEK

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23089, 3 August 1940, Page 15

LONGER WORKING WEEK

—* — PROPOSAL BEFORE COURT OF ARBITRATION GLOVE MANUFACTURERS’ CASE | An extension of the 40-hour week in I the 'glove-making industry was opI posed ; by. the Canterbury Glove I Makers’ Union in the Arbitration Court ' 'yesterday. A dispute over the wages of male workers was also debated. Mr"'Justice Tyndall presided, and with him were Messrs W. Cecil Prime, employers’ representative, and Mr:.A. L. Monteith, workers’ representative. Mr D. I. Macdonald appeared for the employers and Mr J. Roberts for the union. Opposing the extension of the working week, Mr Roberts said that the industry was among the smallest iri the country, but. trade was brisk because of the import restrictions. Overtime was designed to-cope with just such a set of circumstances. On the question of wages, Mr Roberts said that glovecutters had always been paid more than clothing workers, and the union wanted this relative position maintained. ' Assuming that the workers were producing at present to the best of their ability, said Mr Macdonald, the only way to meet the Government’s plea for increased production was to'extend the working week. The industry was working on some orders for the Air ' Force, and because of import restnc- ■ tions, was called, upon to make more ; gloves., , The employers opposed an increase in adult male wages because they were already above the Court’s standard. An increase for junior males was opposed because the ‘present rates compared more than favourably with those in other industries. The employers were astonished at the proposition that increased production should be paid for at overtime rates. , The union claimed £6 17s 6d and £5 17s 6d a week for first-class and second-class cutters respectively, and £1 5s rising to £3,14s iii eight_sixmonthly steps for junior male workers. The employers offered £5 ss, £4 12s Bd, and 17s 6d rising to £3 ss. The present rates for first-class iand secondclass cutters are £5 7s 6d and £4 17s 6d. '