PLASTERERS’ AWARD

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27533, 15 December 1954, Page 15

PLASTERERS’ AWARD

WEEKLY RATE OF PAY SOUGHT

(New Zealand Press Association) " WELLINGTON, December 14. A weekly instead of the present hourly rate of payment was sought by the workers’ advocate (Mr W. T. Quealy) when claims for a new award were made by the New Zealand (except Otago and Southland) Plasterers’ and Related Trades Industrial Union of Workers in the Court of Arbitration today.

A weekly basis of payment would be beneficial to the trade generally, said Mr Quealy, because it would give a greater degree of permanence to employment in rhe industry, and thus the workers would have a greater sense of security. Weekly rates of pay would also be a factor in attracting suitable types of workers to the trade.

The employers were opposed to any change, and requested that wage rates be fixed on an hourly basis, said the employers’ advocate (Mr G. A. Turner).

The employers also opposed the union’s claim for mimimum travelling time, said Mr Turner. The proposal would mean the unnecessary loading qf expenses in building work. Decision was reserved.

Plasterers in Canterbury and Westland were under a different award, and they were not parties to the claim before the Court, said the secretary of the Canterbury Master Plasterers’ Union of Employers (Mr P. J. Taylor) last evening. . “We have never yet gone to the Arbitration Court in all the years there has been an award,” said Mr Taylor. “We have always settled in conciliation, a record 4 of which I think both —parties are very proud. Our award came into force on May 31, 1951, and it included a clause stating that plasterers, after being employee for one week, had to be ppid a weekly wage. Since the award came into force, we have had no disputes at all. Our award Is outstanding in one or two respects. A clause defining where trayelling time will be paid from has worked admirably. No other building union in New Zealand has that suburban work clause.”