SADDLERS' DISPUTE

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 15, 17 July 1918, Page 2

SADDLERS' DISPUTE

APPLICATION FOR INCREASED WAGES The Wellington Saddlers' Industrial Union of Workers has filed an application ,for a new award to cover the whole of •the Wellington industrial district. The chief features of the demands are the applications for increased wages all round and for a reduction in hours. The conditions asked for are as follow, with the rates ruling in the old award in parentheses :— Hours of Work.—(a) The hours of work shall be forty-four in each week (48 per weak); (b) On Saturday in each week the hours of work shall expire in all factories in the City of Wellington, and its adjacent suburbs, including Petone and Lower Hutt, at 12 o'clock; (c) In other parts of the industrial district the hours of work shall expire, subject to the provisions of the Factories Act, 1988, at 12 o'clock on one day in each week, and such day may be either Saturday or the day upon which the, local half-holiday is observed; (d) For the purpose of calculating the hours of work each of the holidays hereinafter mentioned shall be deemed to be a day worked, although no work shall have actually been done on such holiday. Wages.—(a) Every journeyman working at any branch of the trade shall bo paid not less than Is 9d per hour (Is 4d per hour). (b) All wages shall be paid weekly, and one week's notice to be given on either side. Overtime.—All work performed beyond the time mentioned in Clause 1 of this award shall be considered overtime, and shall be paid for at the following rates : — For the first three hours, or up to 9 p.m., time and a-qxiarter; up to midnight, time and a-half; afterwards, double time; on Sundays and the daye mentioned in Clause 11 hereof, double time. When the work is performed on Saturday afternoon or on the day set apart for the weekly half-holiday time and a-half shall be' paid. Apprentices.—(a) Any employer taking an apprentice to learn the trade shall be deemed to undertake the duty which he agrees to perform as a duty enforceable under this award, and shall pay such apprentice not less than the undermentioned rate of wages, namely:—For the first year, 12s 6d per week (10s) ; for the second year, 17s 6d per week (15s); for the third year, 22s 6d per week (£1); for I the fourth year, 30s per week (£1 7s i 6d) ; and for the fifth year, 45s (£1 15s). The other clauses relating to apprenticee remain unaltered. Female Stitchers and Machinists.—All female stitchers and machinists employed shall be paid a weekly minimum wage —for the first year, 12s 6d per week (7s 6d); for the second year, 17s 6di per week (12s 6d); for the third year, £1 2s 6d per week (17s 6d);. for the fourth year, £1 10s per week (£1 ss): for the first six months of the fifth year, £2 per week (£1 10s); and thereafter,, not leas than £2 15s per week (£2). Holidays.—The following days shall be recognised as holidays in all branches of the trade : New Year's Day, 2nd January, Anniversary Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, birthday of the reigning Sovereign, Boxing Day, Christmas Day. and Labour Day. The wages hereinbefore prescribed ai'e weekly wages, and are not subject to any deduction save for time lost through the default or illness of the worker. / There are the usual provisions relating to preference, nnder-rato workers, etc. The dispute will come before the Conciliation Council in Wellington on sth August, and subsequently sittings will be held at Napier, Wanganui, and Palmevston North. The. assessors appointed by the union are Messrs. AGollop, C. Clifford, and H.; Heap, all of Wellington.