Clerical workers

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32778, 1 December 1971, Page 16

Clerical workers

Sir, —With the recent wage for female clerical workers adjusted to $45, could the union explain the position regarding girls with perhaps 10 years experience, either applying for a new position or in a present job where the employer feels $45 is not comparable with the girl’s training and wishes to offer a wage of $55? Can the employer adjust wages based on experience or promotion without coming to loggerheads with the Remuneration Authority? Obviously many employers are paying well above the award wage. What about the employer who, using the excuse of the Remuneration Authority’s powers, refuses to adjust wages? Many seem to be playing on this excuse as some girls, getting $45 before the new award, find themselves still on this amount, yet before the employer thought enough of these girls to pay them $5 above the award. —Yours, WORKER. November 19, 1971. [Mr E. C. Blacker, secretary of the Canterbury Clerks’, Cashiers’, and Office Employees’ Union, replies: “Under the. Stabilisation of Remuneration Act an employer is permitted to increase wage rates up to a maximum of 7 per cent above the base rates. The ‘base rate’ in the case of an individual worker is the remuneration payable to that worker as at January 15. 1971. As applied to your correspondent, this means that if ‘Worker’ was being paid wages as at January 1. at the rate of $45 a week and is still receiving wages at the rate of $45 a week, then her employer is at liberty, should he so desire, to grant an increase of up to 7 per cent. Any increase above 7 per cent would require the consent of the Remuneration Authority. Assuming that your correspondent is a member of this union

I would suggest that she call on me at the union office when a more detailed explanation will be forthcoming.”]