A WOODWORK FACTORY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 98, 21 January 1924, Page 6

A WOODWORK FACTORY

ARBITRATION COURT’S INTERPRETATION

There, has been a considerable difference of opinion as to the meaning of “woodwork factories” in the Dominion award for carpenters ana joiners and as there is a different rate of pay covering “factory work, the point is an important one. To settle the point the unions and employers agreed to make a joint application to the Arbitration Court tor ansivers to the following questions:— (1) Are the work-places of the manufacturing parties joined to thy an aid “woodwork factories” within the moaning of the award? (2) W hat is the minimum rate of wages payable to a carpenter working hi a factory other than a woodwork factory? (3) Can a worker in one employment be paid two rates of wages—one whilst engaged in a- factory and anothei whilst engaged in fixing on a building work he has prepared in a woodwork factory? ~ . .i The Court’s answer states that the term “factory worker” is intended to cover workers who work under factory conditions. It is true that the expression “woodwork factories” is used in the memorandum to the award: but it is used to illustrate th© •distinction between outside workers and factory workers. The award itself makes a distinction between the outside workers and factory workers which is sufficiently clear. The Court intends that workers employed in factories, whether woodwork factories or •■nt. under factory conditions—that is. workers who do not lose time through wet weather—shall be paid at the lower rate, the higher rate being intended to compensate outside work■■rs for the time necessarily lost bv them. A factory worker employed in ■i uppers’ shop who is sent on to a ' nulling iob to assist in firing material ’bat he has prepared in the workshop is ent’tled to the b’’o-her rate while he is working outside the shop.