MUNICIPAL MILK WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 60, 4 December 1937, Page 8

MUNICIPAL MILK WORKERS

Conciliation Council

COMPLETE AGREEMENT REACHED

A complete agreement on all clauses under dispute was reached at the adjourned meeting of the Wellington municipal milk workers’ dispute, which was resumed before Mr. M. J. Reardon, conciliation commissioner, at Wellington yesterday.

At the previous sitting a partial agreement wag reached, the major clauses held over being those relating to wages and the number of days over which the 40-hour week for roundsmen •was to be spread. After discussion an amicable settlement was reached on these points. A 40-hour week was agreed upon, exclusive of overtime, for all workers, depot hands to work a five-da.v and roundsmen a six-day week. Wages were agreed upon as follows: — (a) Depot hands, £4/13/- a week: roundsmen, £5/2/-, which includes 6/a week as recompense for the continuation of the present arrangement for an early starting time: (e) roundsmen driving motor-vehicles shall be paid 5/in addition to the rates set out in clause (b) ; (d) relieving roundsmen, 7/- a week extra; (e) depot hands employed on night shift shall be paid 3/- a week extra. A night shift worker shall mean any worker in the depot whose work requires him to perform duties after 9 p.m., or who is required to commence a shift after 4 p.m. or before 4 a.m.; (f) motor drivers other than roundsmen, £5/10/-, which includes payment for Sunday work; (g) casual workers in the depot. 2/5J an hour. In regard to the term of the award, it was agreed that the wages clause shall operate as from March 25, and all other conditions as from the day the award is made by the Court of Arbitration, the award to remain in force for two years. Mr. R. J. Reardon appeared as agent for the workers, whose assessors were Messrs. G. Farrow, G. Latimer, H. Richardson and J. Robertson.

Fo r the employers, Mr. W. J. Mountjoy appeared as agent, the assessors being Messrs. R. E. Herron, S. G. Cole, S. S. Steele and H. W. Stansfield.