FARM AND STATION WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 157, 31 March 1937, Page 6

FARM AND STATION WORKERS

Agreement With Employers

WAGES AND GENERAL CONDITIONS

By Telegraph—-Press Association. Christchurch, March 30. An agreement has been reached between representatives of Hie New Zealand Workers’ Union, the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Federation and the New Zealand Farmers’ Union governing rates of pay and general conditions for farm and station workers, other than those already covered by industrial agreements such as dairy farm workers, shearers and muslerers. It is stated that the agreement is tentative pending ratification by Order-in-coun-cil, with the publication of which the agreement will become law. The agreement, it is stated, provides for a minimum rate for permanent employees of £2/2/6 weekly and found, with the addition of 17/6 weekly where board and lodging is not provided. The wage for casual farm labourers by the hour is set down nt 1/6 hourly and found, and for harvesting work, -/- hourly and found. For casual farm labourers engaged by the day the rate is 18/4 daily and found or 16/- if not found.

No restriction is to be placed on the number of hours to be worked, and provision is made for eighteen paid holidays annually, including statutory holidays.

Youths' wages are to 1/- hourly or 8/- daily and found, or 1/3 hourly and 10/- daily if not found. The agreement, contains a clause dealing with the employment of underrate workers. The employers will not be empowered to charge rent for cottages occupied by their employees.

An important provision sets out that there is to be no classification of labour on farms in any way.