UNUSUAL TURN

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 63, 8 December 1936, Page 5

UNUSUAL TURN

Electroplaters’ Award EMPLOYERS’ CITATION The rather unusual turn of an employers’ union making the citation for an award instead of the workers union occurred in Conciliation Council jesteidav when negotiations took place between the Wellington District Electroplaters’ Industrial Union of Employers and the Wellington Amalgamated Engineering and Allied Trades. Industrial Union of Workers. The reason lor this was that other awards covering engineering trades were encroaching on file work of electroplaters and metal polishers, and wages were being fixed without adequate representation from those who were solely interested in these trades. , Mr. M. J. Reardon was the presiding commissioner, Messrs. A. M . Nisbet (Wellington Manufacturers’ Association), W. J. Scamtnell (Sterling Electroplating Company), and L. C. Whitelaw (Messrs. Whitelaw Bros.. Ltd.) were the employers’ assessors, and Messrs. A. Black (secretary of the Wellington Engineers’ Union), G. .Millgate, E. Duflill. and J. W. Sargeant appeared for the workers. Practically a complete ■ settlement was reached, the proceedings lasting all day.

A 40-iiour week was agreed upon, the hours to be worked between 7.30 a.m. .and 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday, inclusive. Wages for adult electroplaters with four or more years’ experience were settled at 2/6 an hour, and 2/44 an hour for such workers with less than four years' experience. First-class metal-polishers’ wages were agreed upon at 2/6 an hour, with 2/41 an hour for second-class workers in this trade. ’ Boys and youths’ wages were settled on an age and experience basis, ranging from 17/6 a week for a boy under 16 years to £3/2/6 at 21 years of age. Ordinary recognised public holidays were granted, but no provision was made for annual holidays.

It was agreed that the award be for one year, and that it cover the Wellington industrial district.