WAGES FOR WOMEN

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 226, 19 June 1940, Page 10

WAGES FOR WOMEN

English Court’s Ruling EQUALITY WITH MEN A ruling which, it is considered by some authorities, establishes the longcontested claim of women to receive equal pay with men for equal work has been handed down by the Industrial Court in England. The Industrial Court is a permanent court of arbitration to which, with the consent of both parties, the Minister of Labour ean refer industrial disputes for settlement. The case was referred to the Court after disagreement in the National Joint Industrial Council for the Road Passenger Industry on the rates of pay of women employed by local authorities as wartime conductors of passenger vehicles. The rilling applies for the war period only to women conductors on municipally-owned passenger vehicles in the provinces who are taking the places of men called up. For the first six months women conductors, who must be over 18, will receive not less than 90 per cent, of the adult male conductors’ starting rate, and thereafter the full scale. Those below 21 will receive not less than 90 per cent, of the starting rate for men. Women who during service reach the age of 21, and have served not less than six months, will receive the full rate. The conditions will be the same as for men except that the guaranteed week may be for 40 hours, instead of 4S, and all time worked in excess of 40 hours will lie paid for at the adult male conductors’ overtime rates. This award may have far-reaching effects, it is believed, particularly in engineering and munition work. Negotiations are now in progress for the employment of women in engineering for war work.