HOTEL WORKERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 815, 12 May 1910, Page 3

HOTEL WORKERS.

NO, SETTLEMENT YET.

A further attempt at a settlement of the dispute between the hotel workers and the employers on the questions of— mainly—shorter hours for women workers in hotels, and increased rates of pay for lower-grade male hands, was made- yesterday, when the parties, represented by Messrs. J. Beveridgo (Grand Hotel) and P. M'Parland (Hotel Cecil) for tho employers, and Mr. E. J. Carey (secretary of the Cooks' and -Waiters' Union) for the employees, appeared before Mr. P. Hnlly, Conciliation Commissioner, for the purpose of discussing the counter-claims filed on Saturday last by the employers. These were made practically on the basis of the old award, with tbe exception of certain clauses fixing the daily number of hours of work at eleven, and providing for tho payment of overtime for . any hours worked in excess thereof.

Mr. Beveridge said that the meeting was of an informal nature, to discuss the clauses dealing with the limitation of the daily hours of work and the payment of overtime. The employers asked that for these concessions they. might be freed from certain other restrictions. Protest from the Union. .' Mr. Carey said that his committee had instructed him to protest against tho procedure adopted by the employers, who evidently desired to gain a technical advantage and get their claims heard before the Court. The union had no strong objection to the clauses mentioned by Mr. Beveridge, but they preferred that the question of hours should be settled by legislation, than that the question should be determined by an award of the Arbitration Court Granted that, they vrould be content to leave the matter of wages and other minor points to the Court. Tho speaker questioned Hip legality of the procedure adopted. If legal, then he would bo prepared to call & special meeting of the union to consider a course of action. Nothing for Capital and Brains. Mr. M'Parland said that he was a firm supporter of every statute which was designed to better the conditions of the worker, but, so far as hotel-keep-ing was concerned, the strain had got to tho breaking point. • Thero should ill least be allowed something for brains, and capital-invested. "If we go any further in tho matter of granting concessions we might as well shut up shop." Mr. Beveridge, replying to the criticisms of tho employers' procedure in. this matter, said that the union had formulated its demands and gone through the procedure without consulting the. employers. Certain clauses in the award amounted to a hardship on the public. There was no ulterior motive, nor any desire to take an undue advantage of the employees.. The employers had 'no desire to work their hands moro than 11 hours, but they asked to reserve the right _ to so employ them, at- their own permission, and in payment of overtime, when required. • Possibilities of Settlement. The commissioner at this 6tage declared that the procedure was quito in order. The mistake made was that the employers did not file these particular requirements at .the original conference. He suggested the possibility of a settlement between the parties if Mr. Carey consented to bring an assessor with him. Mr. Beveridgo: .On those two points? Air. Carey raised the question of shorter hours for women, and increased PW for certain lower grade men. ihe commissioner suggested that the girls m the hotels were not always working there. Mr. M'Parland said that it was necessary to have them there,-even if they only worked half the day. ' Mr. Carey asserted that he could easily organise the working of -an hotel so tliat a reduction of nine ■ hours in the G» could.be effected, while retaining the girls on the premises. Mr. Beveridge remarked that ; the responsibility of earning.• dividends had some effect on the point of view He thought that there was not tfie slightest chance of reopening .the matter A - settlement appeared to he out of 'the question.■■■ -, ... - :. .

The commissioner said that the employers demands would have to he heard iormalJv. '

Mr. Carey said that a special mooting of the union wdnld be convened for Friday night, and arrangements made for »f»T P f Oyees fu "y represented at a conference before the commissioner on Saturday nest, at 10.30 .a.m.