STOREMEN'S DISPUTE

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 110, 5 November 1915, Page 2

STOREMEN'S DISPUTE

BEFORE CONCILIATION

COUNCIL.

A sitting of the Conciliation Council was held this morning, to deal with the Storemen and Packers' dispute. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. p. Hally) presided. Mr. M. J. Reardon appeared as agent for the union, and -Mr. W. A. W. Grenfell for the employers. The assessors were—For the union : Messrs. John O'Sullivan, Alex. Monteith, and Reginald A. Simpson; .for the employers : Messrs. Thos. Ballinger. D. F. Skinner, and J. W. ■Days.

. The union demands were for a 44----hour week instead of 48 as at present. The present minimum wage is £2 10s, and the union asked that this be increased to the following rates :—Head storeman or packer, or only storeman or packer, £3 10s; storemen and packers, £3 ss; junior storemen, \ from £1 at 17 years of age to £2 15s at 21; casual hands, Is 5d per hour. The usual public holidays were asked for, also one holiday of two weeks on full pay on completion of each year of service. Other clauses in the demands related to meal hours, notice re overtime, engagement at the union office, and a new form of preference.

The Council went into committee to consider the demands in detail.

Representatives of the parties agreed upon a number of minor points in the dispute, much on the same lines as in the previons award. On clauses dealing with wages, hours, preference, and other items of major importance no arrangement was come to. The assessors appointed to adjust the dispute will meet on Monday, at 10/30" a.m., to frame a recommendation on the points still remaining."