CONCILIATION HEARINGS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27201, 19 November 1953, Page 3

CONCILIATION HEARINGS

EMPLOYERS’ OFFER TO BRUSHWORKERS

If an offer made by the employers to the workers is accepted, a settlement of t|ie Northern, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Southland brush and broom trade employees’ dispute is likely. The hearing of the dispute began in Christchurch yesterday before the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr A. B. Rigg). The workers are asking for a reclassification of certain jobs to higher classifications, an increase in wages of 3d and 4d an hour, an additional week’s holiday after 10 years’ service, and for the inclusion of an extra holiday, such as the day after New Year’s Day. There are also certain new claims for industrial clothing. Assessors for the New Zealand Federated Brush and Broom Trades Employers’ Association for Workers are Messrs F. S. Biddle (Auckland), A. H. Dixon (Auckland), L. Glover (Wellington), F. Payne, E. R. Clark, D. G. Mowat and J. R. Walton (Dunedin).

The employers (Bunting and Company, Ltd.) and others are represented by Messrs L. R. Webley, E. C. Munt (Wellington), E. Bonisch, E. Elmsley, H. F. Rutland (Christchurch), and L. Broad (Dunedin). The heating will be.. continued today when the employers will receive the union’s reply. If no settlement is reached, the matter will go to the Arbitration Court. Tanners’ Dispute No settlement has been reached in the Northern, Canterbury, Otago and Southland tanners’ dispute and the disput will go to the Arbitration Court. The workers claimed 6d an hour extra, increases in meal and dirt money and submitted a proposal for alterations in the piecework clause of their award. The employers were represented at the hearing by Messrs F. L. Astley (Auckland), J. R. Hanlon (Wellington), F, L. Bowron (Christchurch), T. G. Tonkins, W. M. Ollivier, H. L. Longbottom (Dunfedin) and Dr. H. C. Holland (Auckland). Assessors for the workers were Messrs R. E. Smith (Auckland), W. Green, C. Hopping, H. G. Kilpatrick (Christchurch), D. Penman (Dunedin) and R. Marshall (South Dunedin). A settlement is likely in the Canterbury, Otago and Southland bacon workers’ dispute. Wage negotiations have been postponed until ,the Arbitration iCourt makes a pronouncement on the application by the Federation of Labour for a general tvage order. The workers claimed a 20 per cent, increase in wages.