FURNITURE WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 149, 21 March 1927, Page 8

FURNITURE WORKERS

NEW AWARD FILED HOURS, WAGES, AND OVERTIME V new award governing the conditions of" labour of the New Zealand federated furniture trade has been filed by His Honour Mr. Justice Frazer, President cf tho Arbitration Court. Tho award relates to tho northern, Wellington, Ganterburv, Otago and Southland districts. In a “memorandum to the award, Ills Honour states that the Court has settled tho provisions jelating to hours, wages, classification, female workers, overtime, improvers, and meal-moucy. The Court decided not to make special provision for tho use of paint or varnish-spray-in" machines, as it was of the opinion that such matters could bo more fully and properly dealt with by the Departments of Labour and Public Health. Regulations of general application could be made and enforced by these Departments, whereas any provisions inserted in the award would be applicable only to the parties subscribing to if. Following aro tho main provisions of tho award: — Hours of Work. Forty-four hours shall constitute a week’s work, to be worked between 7.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. on five dhvs of the week, and between 7.30 a.m. and noon on the day of the weekly half-holiday. Each employer shall so regulate tho hours of work in his establishment that not more than eight hours forty-eight minutes shall bo worked cn live days of tho week, and four hours on the day of the weekly half-holiday. In establishments in which tho hours of work are regulated by the Shops and Offices Act, these provisions regarding the hours of work shall not apply so far as fur-niture-packers aro concerned. Wages. The minimum wage to be paid to journeymen cabinetmakers, casketmakers, upholsterers, chair and framemakers, machinists, woodcarvers, turners and polishers, and in tho northern industrial district, plato glasscutters and hand bevelling (hand be”elling to include roughing, smoothing, pumicing and rouging), and nianofo'-te-makers (except workers on the mechanism), shall be 2s. 3d. per hour, and for picture-frame makers and wire-mattress makers in all branches 2s. Gd. per hour, tn the northern industrial district, sil verers, polishers, and machine cutters shall be paid 2s. 0| per hour. Workers employed in timber-stacking or (except in the northern industrial district) furniture-packing, or at any other unskilled work, shall be paid not less than Is. IOJd. per hour. Upholsterers’ work shall include all kinds of bedding, planning, and laying of carpets and linoleums, and also the fixing of drapings. Wages shall bo paid weekly on the premises of the employer, and within five minutes of work ceasing. Female Workers. Female workers of the ago of sixteen years or over may be employed in the weaving of wire mattresses at the follow ing minimum weekly rates:—For the first year, £1 25.; for tho second year, £1 9s. 6d.; for tho third year, £1 19s. Cd.; for tho fourth year, £2 75.; for the fifth year, £2 17s. These conditions shall operate as regards female workers operating Kershaw’s semi-automatic or similar machines. Overtime and Holidays. All time worked on any day outside or in excess of the hours prescribed shall be deemed to bo overtime, and shall be paid for as follow: —Timo and a half for the first four hours, and double time thereafter, -until the ordiinary time for commencing work next .day if worked continuously. , If more than an average of eight days’ work is done at ordinary rates on'five days of the week, all time worked on tho sixth day shall be paid for at overtime, rates. For work done on Sunday, Good I'rldav Anzac Dav. or Christmas Day, double time shall bo paid, and for work done on Easter Monday, the Sovereign’s Birthday. Labour Day, New Year’s Dav, or Boxing Day, or on tlio weekly half-holiday, time and a half shall be paid. ■ . r Tho new award comes into force on April 4. 1927, operating until the corresponding day of 1928, and contains a preference clause.