GENERAL WAGE INCREASE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27303, 20 March 1954, Page 5

GENERAL WAGE INCREASE

ORDERS BY COURT OF ARBITRATION

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 19. Arbitration Court orders reduce the number of workers under four awards eligible for the 10 per cent, general wage increase. They are workers under the New Zealand Licensed Hotels’ Employees’ Award, the Private Hotels’ Employees’ Award, the Hospital Domestic Workers’ Award, and the Private Hospital Domestic Workers’ Award, who are provided’ with board or board and lodging.

Where full board and lodging is supplied, the 10 per cent, increase will apply to earnings up to £9 18s a week by males and £6 18s by females, in-

stead of the £l2 and £9 respectively as provided by the general order. For those living off the premises but provided with meals by the employer, the limits are £lO 12s for males and £7 12s for females.

All orders are retrospective to September 15, 1953, except that for licensed hotels’ employees. Their order dates to their last award, on February 24, 1954. Women working, under nine different awards are to receive similar increases under the 10 per cent, general wage order as men in the same work. Arbitration Court orders permit them to receive the increases on up to £l2 of their minimum salary or wages and special payments each week K instead of £9 as provided in the general order. Those affected are women under ajvards covering retail chemists’ assistantp, hospital board pharmacists, retail grocers’ assistants and drivers, retail shop assistants, motor and horse drivers, taxi drivers, wool, grain, hide, and manure store employees, fruit and produce store employees, and storemen and packers. Provisions in some cases in these awards necessitate payment of the full rate for men workers to women required to do certain work. All orders are retrospective to September 15, 1953.