EMPLOYEES IN CAFETERIAS
WAGES ARREARS CLAIMED JUDGMENT GIVEN FOR PLAINTIFF Judgment for the plaintiff was given in a reserved decision by Judge Stevens on claims made by the Inspector of Awards (Mr C. P. Collins) in the Court of Arbitration recently against three Christchurch firms which were alleged to have broken the New Zealand Tearoom and Restaurant Employees’ Award, in respect of women employed in their cafeterias, and for -arrears of wages claimed to be due to them. The companies, Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., Suckling Bros.. Ltd., and A. Wander. Ltd., were reoresented by Mr A. C. Perry. The claims 'were for alleged breaches of the award in that the defendants failed to pay the prescribed weekly wage to workers in cafeterias attached to the defendants’ factories, when the workers did not in fact work 40 hours a week, nor were they available to do so.
At the hearing, Mr Perry, for the defendants. said that the women did not work full time because they did not wish to do so. The hours were either nominated by the employees or were approved by them. The cafeterias were provided by benevolent employers for the benefit of the workers, and the employees in the cafeterias were well and adequately paid. Mr Collins submitted that these workers were entitled to the specified weekly wage. In his decision. Judge Stevens said that the terms of the award fixed a weekly hiring and each of the defendants had entered into arrangements with the employees to work less than 40 hours. They were still required to pay the weekly wage, and were not entitled to make arrangements outside the terms of the award.
On the claims for penalties for breaches of the award, judgment for £5 for the plaintiff against each firm was entered. On the claims for payments of wages said to be due. judgment was given for £2l Is 5d against Suckling Brothers, for three workers: for £3B 10s against A. Wander, Ltd., for one worker; and for £2B 15s against Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., for two workers.
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Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25606, 22 September 1948, Page 6
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344EMPLOYEES IN CAFETERIAS Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25606, 22 September 1948, Page 6
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