THE STAFF OF LIFE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1129, 17 May 1911, Page 6

THE STAFF OF LIFE.

9 ■ NEW CLAIMS BY BAKERS' UNION. INCREASE IN WAGES ASKED. A new' set of claims relating, to the work of members of- the ■ Wellington Operative Bakers' Union has been drawn up and forwarded to tho Master Bakers' Association, with a request that a conference of masters and men should bo held to consider tho claims. Failing a settlement, the union will apply for a new award for the Wellington Industrial District. Though nominally confined to tho Wellington district, tho dispute affects practically tho whole of the baking trade in tho Dominion. Tho demands of tho union are based on the model demand drawn up by the conference of tho Bakers' Unions of New Zealand. The present Bakers' and Pastrycooks' Association comprises the Auckland, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Westland, Dunedin, and Wellington Unions. Tho basis of tho present claims is that which it is hoped to make a Dominion award for tho trade.

The expiring award governing tho broad-baking industry was made in May, 1908, and was dated to expire in December, 1910. Since that award was mado a .further allied award Was secured, covering the employment of pastrycooks. This award was made in June, 1909, and expires in June, 1911. The present award fixes wages which'range from £3 3s. for a first band.down to .£2 ss. for third and other hands. Tho hours were fixed at 51 per 'week for Wellington city, and 48 for country districts. The pastrycooks award provides for wages from £2 as. to ,£3 psr week of 48 hours.

The new demands of the union provido for a 18-hour week for both pastrycooks and bakers as under: 8j hours on five days, and 5J hours on one day. Tho wages asked for are £S Ids. per week for the foreman, and £3 ss. for'other journeymen bakers or pastrycooks. A wago of 12s. per day is asked for jobbers, instead of 10s. as under the old award.

.. Classification, other than as to the foreman, will bo done away with if tho demands aro granted. Eleven holidays in tho year are asked for by the bakers, and, if workers aro asked to work on Sundays or holidays, tho unions seek to have them paid 3s. per hour in addition to the usual wage. Limitation of' apprentices, regulation of tho wages of apprentices, an under-rato workers clause, and prefer(inco to unionists aro amongst the other demands.

Provision is also made in tho pastrycooks' claims to prevent a certain class of tea-room employing waitresses and cooks in tho kitchen to manufacture tho edibles, and thus compete with tho shops that have to conduct bakehouses and pay tho rato of wages laid down in tho award. It is contended that cooks and waitresses who do this class of work come under tho Cooks' and Waiters' Union, and not the I'astyco'oks' Union', but they como Into competition with the latter union's workers', and tho caterers who have to recognise tho pastrycooks' award.