GROCERS’ AWARD

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 271, 12 August 1938, Page 8

GROCERS’ AWARD

Dissatisfaction Of Both Parties DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS "It id most interesting to note that the union representatives uro at one with the employers in their general dissatisfaction with the award, but tor entirely different reasons,” said Mr. . D. Cornwell, secretary of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, in commenting yesterday on criticisms by employers of the new Dominion Grocers’ Award. •‘lt would appear from the statements publishecL that some employers desired the grocers’ assistants to be at the 'beck and call of the employer for 47i hours each week in order that he may receive 44 hours’ work. He might be hanging about the streets for at least 3i hours each week of his working life for the convenience of his employer, for which he will receive no wages. What other class of worker is called upon to do this, other than the shop assistant, and why is he or she supposed to do this, while practically all other workers can complete their day’s work with only the one hour break for lunch. “It is with some satisfaction we note' that Kir. Mountjoy does not consider bhe increase in wages is the greatest difficulty for the employers; perhaps he feels as we do, that for the sacrifice the grocers’ assistant is called upon to make, the increase in wages should have been considerably higher; but with Mr. Barker it is different. He admits the employers’ advocates agreed that the increase in wages should take effect as from June 14, and as secretary of the Auckland Master Grocers’ Federation he should have advised his members of the position. Strictly speaking, there is no retrospective wage increase. The court knew the representatives of both sides agreed with it on the date when the wage increase was to become operative. Wage Increases. "In connection with the increase of 2/6 ic week in excess of the court’s pronouncement, as claimed by Mr. Barker, some of us realise that the increase of 5/- a week was to 'be given to employees who worked 40 hours a week; for those compelled to work 42 hours a week we understood the increase was to be 6/a week, and for those who worked 44 hours a week we were under the impression the increase was to be 7/- a week. Therefore, the increase is only 6d. a week over what was understood to be the court’s pronouncement, and what sacrifice does the grocers’ assistant have to make in order to qualify himself for this extra 6d. a week?

"First he must, if he starts in this Industry when he is under 16 years of age, serve eight years as boy and junior assistant before he receives the handsome wage of £5/2/6. In most trades the period of apprenticeship is five years,' and at the end of 'that period the worker receives in most cases £5/10/- a week. Secondly, while the majority of other workers are enjoying themselves on Friday evening, the grocers’ assistant must remain at work until 8.30 or 0 p.m. Thirdly, on Saturday morning, while thousands of workers are enjoying a slightly longer week-end break, the grocers’ assistant must return to work to attend to the requirements of those people who want to shop on Saturday morning. "After having attended to the requirements of 'the employers for 12 months, and sacrificed the opportunity of enjoying a five-day week, a privilege enjoyed by many.thousands of other workers, he is granted one week’s holiday, while large groups of other workers who enjoy a 40-hour five-day week are granted two weeks’ annual holiday. “Not Much to be Thankful For.”

"We feel sure that most reasonably minded people will agree that the grocers’ assistant has nothing much to be thankful for in an award of the Court of Arbitration, which calls for an eight years’ apprenticeship or period of learning the trade; a late Friday night; a Saturday morning to work additional to so many thousands of other workers; a 44-hour week compared to so many who have a 40-hour week; one week’s annual holiday, when so many other workers have two weeks’ annual holiday; with the splendid gain of 6d. a week—truly a most magnanimous award.”