JEWELLERS' DISPUTE

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 26, 30 January 1919, Page 8

JEWELLERS' DISPUTE

A COMPLETE AGREEMENT

INCREASED WAGES, AND PAY FOR.

HOLIDAYS.

A complete settlement has been arrived at by the Conciliation Council in the Jewellers' dispute. The hours of work agi-eed upon are 46^-, the same as in the old award, as against 44 hours demanded by the union. A new provision provides for payment for the fixed holidays —Ist and 2nd January, Anniversary Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and King's Birthday. "A II work done outside ordinary hours will bo paid for at the following rates—time and a quar ter for the first two hours, and time and a half thereafter. The rate of wages agreed upon is £3 10s, with a war bonus of Ss, as against £3 4s in the old award, and £4 as demanded by the union. Rates lor females havei been increased by from 8s to 9s all round, and now stand as follows: First six months, 20s; second six months, 22s 6d ; second year, 25s ; third year, 30s . fourth year, 37s 6d; thereafter 455. Increases in apprentices' wages were also agreed upon, and the rates are now: First year, 12s 6d; second year, 17s 6d ; third year, 22s 6d; fourth year, 28s 6d , fifth year,_ 365; sixth year, 465. An addition to the preference clause provides that the secretary of the union shall be notified, within twenty-four hours, of the employment of a nonunionist. The term of the agreement is two years, and its scope the whole of the Wellington Industrial district. Mr. Partridge, on behalf of the em. ployers, thanked the Commissioner (Mr. W. Newton) for the painstaking way he had conducted the negotiations, and stated that the agreement proved that the relations between the employers and the workers in the jewellery trade were exceedingly satisfactory. He also complimented Mr. A. L. Monteath upon the way he had presented the case of the union. Mr. Monteath also congratulated the Commissioner. They realised, he said, that there was an anxious time ahead so far as the Labour world in New Zealand was concerned, and that everything should be done to bring about good feeling between the workers and their employers. The result of the dispute had shown the benefit of around-the-tablo conference, as compared with proceedings before the Arbitration Court.