PLASTERERS’ DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 154, 26 March 1938, Page 8

PLASTERERS’ DISPUTE

Employers Seek New Award

WELLINGTON DISTRICT The application of the employers iu the Wellington industrial district for a new award in the solid plastering industry was beard in the Second Court of Arbitration yesterday before Mr. Justice Hunter and Messrs. W. E. Anderson (employers’ representative), and A. W. Crockery (workers’ representative). Mr. \V. J. 'Mountjoy was advocate for the employers, and Mr„ E. C. Weavers represented the workers.

The court was asked to decide the hour of starting in the morning, the rate to be paid to journeymen plasterer;;, termination of employment, some aspects of country and suburban work, and a number of general conditions. The employers asked the right to start work as early as 7.30 a.m., becauselunilormity in the starting hour on a building job was essential, said Mr. Mount joy. The court was being asked to fix wages at 2/105 an hour as in the Auckland award, but if extra payment were to be made for practically all coloured work at the rate of 4<l. an hour, that would bring the rate up to 3/2| an hour. If all coloured work were to be "loaded,” the minimuni rate of pay should be 2/9. The employers were prepared to accept the Auckland rates and coloured work conditions, and offered an extra 3d. an hour for wet or dirty work. Workers’ Proposals. Mr. Weavers said the workers would agree’ to the wages being fixed at 2/10J, but they wanted the 8 a.m. start. About suburban work, the men wanted the distance they were required to travel before receiving travelling time and fares fixed at one and a half miles, and not two miles as urged by the employers. The workers-considered that 15 minutes was not long enough for picking up tools, and suggested that half an hour was a reasonable time. Payment was asked for all coloured work, but the workers were agreeable to accept 4d. an hour extra instead of the 6d. they had demanded. After hearing evidence on behalf ,of both parties, the court reserved its decision.