HOURS AND WAGES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 15, 12 October 1932, Page 10

HOURS AND WAGES

Bakers and Employers Seek Agreement CONCESSIONS OFFERED Wages, starting times, and hours of work were the principal questions in dispute yesterday when the New Zealand Federated Bakers and Pastrycooks and Related Trades Employees’ Industrial Association of Workers met the employers in Conciliation Council. The meeting is to be continued this morning, when the workers’ assessors will give their answer to amended proposals submitted by the employers’ assessors. The Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. W. Newton, presided over yesterday’s sittings, and the following assessors were present:— ; Employers: Messrs. C. Cowan (Auckland), R. H. Montgomery (Auckland), A. I. Clegg (Wellington), W. A. Kellow (Wellington), L. A. Woodward (Christchurch), G. A. Laurenson (Dunedin), and D. Dustin (Wanganui). Employees: Messrs. E. J. Watson (Auckland), A. McCarthy (Auckland), F. Mawhinney (Wellington), A. Collins (Wellington), F. J. Niall (Christchurch), T. Hutton (Dunedin), and W. C. Nisbett (Gisborne). Mr. T. O. Bishop appeared as advocate for the employers. It was decided by mutual consent to discuss the proposals clause by clause, but without finality in order to ascertain the views of both parties. The greater part of the day was occupied in this manner, details of the claims being exhaustively analysed. Hours of Work Discussed. In proposing that the hours of work in the trade be reduced from 46 to 40 a week, Mr. Watson said 25 per cent, of the bakers were out of work. Fewer hours would enable the employment of more men, besides giving the workers some of the benefits of modern machinery. On behalf of the employers, whose proposal was for a 48-hour week, Mr. Bishop said that shortening of hours would have a boomerang effect, in that employers would seek to reduce costs by more efficient machinery. “Is it not a fact,” he asked the workers’ assessors. “that what you are really after is the chance to make more in overtime?” Mr. Watson: We don’t want your overtime. What we want is a fair wage for a reasonable number of working hours. Kir. Bishop said the employers wished to increase the weekly hours by two in order to avoid the payment of overtime, one of the factors which made for the high costs they were endeavouring to reduce. The net wages proposed by the workers are as follow, the present net rates being given in parentheses:— Foreman baker or pastrycook, £5/10/(£5); journeyman baker dr pastrycook, £5 (£4/10/-) ; ovensman, baker of pastrycook, £5/10/- (no provision)'; bakehouse labourers or packers, £4/0/6 (£4, less 10 per cent.). Employers’ counter proposals:—Foreman baker or pastrycook, £4/10/-; journeyman baker or pastrycook, £4; bakehouse labourer, £3/5/-. Lower Wages, Dearer Bread? Mr. Niall asked how the employers reconciled their proposal for a reduction of betw’een 9 per cent, and 10 per cent, in wages with the fact that, in Christchurch, the price of bread had i been increased recently by from 2id to 3d a 41b loaf. Mr. Montgomery: That’s only in Christchurch. Another Employers’ Assessor: The question is, how did the price of bread in Christchurch get so low that such an increase was possible? By 4 p.m. much ground had been covered, but no agreement was in sight. Accordingly it was agreed to adjourn until 7 p.m., Mr. Bishop stating that, in the meantime, the employers would meet and consider the position in the light of the day’s proceedings and with the object of making a revised offer. When the council reassembled Mr. Bishop said the employers had given careful consideration to their original counter-proposals and had decided to submit an amended schedule. In this the proposed hours of work were still 48, but the starting times had been altered to an hour later in each case; thus the proposed 3 a.m. start for bakehouse workers would be altered to 4 a.m. The employers were alsot prepared to pay an extra 5/- a week on each wages grade, which would mean a i ail action of 5 per cent, on the present award rates. “Not Fighting Unionism.” Minor alterations to other clauses, including holidays, the definition of casual workers, were also proposed by Mr. Bishop, wfib added: “If an agreement is reached we will Include a preference clause. We are not fighting unionism or collective bargaining. I should like to say, however, that the amended proposals are made without prejudice, and in the event of failure to agree we will not be bound by them.” In reply, Mr. Watson said the amended proposals were “certainly a long way better than the first lot,” but the workers’ assessors required time to consider them.

At the commissioner’s suggestion it was decided to adjourn and to reassemble at 9 o’clock this morning.