A FIVE-DAY WEEK

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 296, 10 September 1926, Page 10

A FIVE-DAY WEEK

LABOUR UNIONS ACTIVE

The season for the consideration or Labour disputes seems to have arrived, judging by the claims for new awards now being filed in the Arbitration Court for consideration of Conciliation Councils, and one feature of most of them Is the demand for a 40-hour week of five days’ duration, with Saturday ana Sunday off. The Motor Mechanics’ Union have filed a claim for a new award emoooying a five-day week of 40 hours. Wages asked for are £6 10s. a week for mechanics and £5 for assistants; 2s. Gd. a day extra for those engaged on traction or trucks, oxy-acetylene and electric welding; double pay for overtime; 2s. 9d. meal money if working after 6 p.m.; fares paid to outside work and suitable board and residence provided if the worker is unable to return home at night; piecework is prohibited; dirt money 2s. 6d. per day. The Plumbers’ Union has filed a claim for a Dominion award, asking for a five-dav week of 40 hours, wages to be 3s. per hour with Is. 6d. a day in addition for outside jobs; overtime double pay. A worker unable to reach his home at night to have conveyance provided at the . expense of the employer, and be paid overtime rates until he is able to reach, home; 6s. per day or board and lodging to be paid for country work; piecework is prohibited; Is. 6d. a day extra for dirty work; 2s. Gd. per meal provided where the employee is working after 6 p.m. Demands have been filed for metalworkers in different districts, which include a five-day week of 40 hours. Wages to be: "Furnacemen, 2s. 6d. hour, work on marine ships or marine boiler work, etc.. 2s. 4d. per hour; labourers, yardmen, etc., 2s. 2d. per hour; boys under 15 vears, £1 55.; 15 to IGs, £1 Ils.; 16 to 17, £1 195.; 17 to 18, £2 75.; 18 to 19, £2 175.; 19 to 20, £3 7s. Dirty work, 2s 6d. per day extra, work on manure plants, ss. per day extra; double rates where temperature exceeds lOOdeg. or is below 30deg.; all necessary travelling expenses to be paid bv employers. The New Zealand Federated Ironmasters’ Industrial Association , has made an application for a Dominion award. A six days’ week of 47 hours is asked for. Wages to be 2s. 1-Jd. per hour for planers, shapers, slotters, and borers, cupola surfacemen, and adult workers after three years’ experience; 2s. Ojd. for all other machinists, steel, sash, lift, and grill workers, repair workers on ships, and implement assemblers ; Is lOfd. for all other workers; boys and youths under 15 years, £1 per week; 15 to 16 vears, £1 55.; 16 to 17 vears, £1 10s.; 17 to 18 years, £1 155.; 18 to 19 years, £& 19 to. 20 years, £2 55.; 20 to 21 years, £3; dirty work, Is. 6d. per day extra; double Antes where work is in places oyer 120 deg.; travelling expenses and living expenses on job to be paid by' employers.