FURNITURE TRADE WORKERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1077, 16 March 1911, Page 6

FURNITURE TRADE WORKERS.

NEW AWARD SOUGHT. APPRENTICES' RATE OF WAGES.

Dissatisfied with their-present conditions of employment,, furniture trade workers of Wellington are making . a fresh claim on the employers. It is contended by the workers that the previous award, which came into force in May, 1906, has been given a fair test, and the'secretary of the union (Mr. D. Mpriar.ty) puts forward in further, sup-port-of the claim that, tho .present conditions of the ti-ade warrant it for fio dc-niand' for .cabinetmakers exceeds the supply, and at the present time the local secretary could place a dozen! tradesmen if they could be obtained. In.Australia it is said, the majority of workers .it •the trade arc receiving more than the minimum wage, aiid still the employers are uhablb to get sufficient men. Within the course of a: few days a conference will be held with the employers to discuss the' proposed claims, and it .is hoped that the matters in dispute wi'l be SJttlcd thereat. ■ Where the new 1 claims differ from tho old are in the matter of apprentices rato of wages, hours of work, minimum wage and overtime. Under the award of I'JUO, •16 hours.constitute a week's work, but it is now asked that 44 hours, shall count a week. Tho minimum wage at present stan'ds.at Is. 3Jd. per hour for all but polisher's, whoso rate of pay is Is. 3d. per hour. The workers now 'claim 1* 7d" per. hiur for all hands. Thi<; also meins ;a corresponding increase in overtime pay the present claim being: Overtime- \.oik shall be between the ordinary hour of ■leaving off ami tbe ordinary hour ( .f starting, and shall be paid as'follows lime and a half up till 9 p.m.; double time from 9 p.m. till the.ordinary hour of starting; double .time on Sundays Good Friday, -Christmas Day, Easter Monday,.. New Year's Day, Boxing Day King's Birthday, and Labour Day. A big increase is asked for in the wa"es of apprentices, who., under the aware! receive, at present the following rates'— First 3'oar, 6s. per week;- second Tear 9s.;.third year,-135.; fourth year, 'lß< • fifth year, 255. The nature'of the now demand may be gleaned from the following paragraph:— . . • Any employer taking an apprentice to learn the trade shall bo deemed to undertake the duty which he agrees to • perform as a duty enforceable under this award; and shall pay such apprentice not less than the..undermentioned rate ot wages, namely: For. each and every week of the first year, 10 per cent, of the' minimum -wage awarded to journeymen • for each and every week of" tho second year, 20 per cent, of such minimum wage; for each and every week of tb> third year, '10 per cent, of such minimum wage; for each and every week if tl o fourth year, GO per cent, of such minimum wage; for each and-every week of tho Cfth year, 80 per cent, of such minimum wage.