Union Opposes Terms Of Chef-Training Scheme

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31089, 18 June 1966, Page 19

Union Opposes Terms Of Chef-Training Scheme

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 17. An employers’ claim for a wage scale for trainee cooks in restaurants and tea-rooms was opposed by the Hotel and Restaurant Workers’ Union in the Arbitration Court. The claim is that a trainee must be under 18 at the time of starting and be paid £6 rising to £lO at the end of five years of training. In that time “it shall be the responsibility of the employer to ensure that proper training be given in provisioning, cooking and kitchen management.” For restaurant and tearoom employers, Mr P. L. Oldham said there was no apprenticeship for youths to train as chefs in the industry, though there was now a scheme in the hotel industry.

The employers wanted to remedy this defect with a scheme in certain restaurants which would be “approved establishments” by agreement with the union. Mr L. N. Short, for the union, said the claim was opposed because of its vaguenesss and the low rates offered, and because the hotel chef-training scheme was working very satisfactorily and could be extended to restaurants.

Two years ago the hotel scheme had been amended to allow chefs in restaurants to become members of the New Zealand Hotel Chefs’ Association. It was these members who trained apprentice cooks. No applications for membership had been received from restaurant chefs, one reason being that very few chefs working in that industry were qualified to train youths. Another reason was that restaurant proprietors did not like the higher pay rates of the hotel scheme (£9 5s 8d gross at starting). Many other claims are involved in the present hearing. It is the first time for many years that the Restaurant and Tea-room Employees’ Award has been before the Court. An increase of £2 a week, with variations, is being sought by the union.