HOTEL WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 144, 16 December 1919, Page 9

HOTEL WORKERS

DISPUTE BEFORE THE CONCILIATION COUNCIL

POINT RAISED IN PROCEDURE,

The Conciliation Council met yesterday to consider the Wellington District Hotel, Club, and Restaurant Workers' dispute. Tile Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. W. Newton) presided. The assessors for the union were Messrs. H. O'Malley, A. H. Colgate, and H. Lees; for the employers, Messrs. B. Doherty, G. Russell, W. A. W. Grenfell. Mr. E. Kennedy appeared as the agent for the applicant union. The statement of claims, already published, covered a 48-hour week, an increase in wages, provision for special occasions, overtime, board and lodging, and other matters.

Mr. Kennedy said he proposed to bring the union's evidence before the council, and suggested that by consent of the parties the chairman Bhould be given a casting vote on points in dispute,' while both parties reserved the right of appeal to the Court.

Mr. W. A.' Grenfell characterised the proceedings as a "try-on" by the union, as there was nothing between the employers and the employees in the nature of a real dispute. Mr. O'Malley objected to the inclusion of Mr. Grenfell ac an assessor, considering that he was an official of the New Zealand Employers' jFederation. The Commissioner should' have the casting vote.

Mr. Kennedy submitted that the point was a test as to all that bad been said by Welfare Leagues and so forth. Mr. Grenfell said that the acceptance of the casting vote by the Conciliation Commissioner would place him in the position of arbitrator and not conciliator, and therefore destroy his influence in the latter capacity. The Commissioner said there was no precedent for the, course he was asked to pursue. He was of opinion that it would not be proper for him to accept the position of arbitrator, which would be usurping the function of a Judge of the Arbitration Court. It was a matter for the council to consider whether they should hear evidence under path. The Act provided for such a proc_dure. Mr. Grenfell had been appointed assessor strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Act, having at one time been an employer in the trade. Mr, Kennedy said he would be prepared to accept the ruling of the Commissioner as-to Mr. Grenfell's acting as assessor under protest, on the understanding that ? if the matter came before the Arbitration Court, the facts in regard to the hearing before, the Conciliation Council should be made publicly known. They had no objection to Mr, Grenfell giving advice, but it was a different matter in deciding the recommendations.to be made.

Mr. Russell pointed out that the original assessors appearing in the statement of claims for the union included Kennedy himself. - Exemption was asked for the Wellington Racing Club, on the ground that it was not a profit-making concern. .

Mr. Kennedy submitted that the Racing Club. had catered for the Jellicoe Ball, among other things, and had underpaid its waitresses and other workers.

The Commissioner said it was a matter for the Court to decide.

In proceeding to stale the case for the applicant, Mr. Kennedy said that the 48-hour week claimed was less by four hours than the 52 worked under the Shops and Offices Act, and if that Act wore out of the way no doubt they would have got 48 hours by this.time. In the Old Country the week was. 48 hours, and also in France, Denmark, Sweden,. Canada, and Australia. The workers were not going to be satisfied with anything less than a 48-hour week in this country. If they could not get it from the Court or by agreement, there was one way left, and that was through Parliament. Candidates had answered the question in such a way that,-if politicians' promises were worth anything, the workers would get the statutory 48-hour week.

ilr. Kennedy put the question in regard to wages as this : "Are the workers employed in the hotels and restaurants entitled to a living wage?" The basic wage the applicants claimed, was £3 6s 6d. for women as for men, because the restaurant that employed women charge*? the same as the restaurant that employed men in the kitchens. There had not been in tliis country yet a decision as to what should be the wages of a woman. The employe-s in their counter-proposals suggested £1 4s-a week as a sufficient wage for women. Were the employers prepared to call that a living wage ? Mr. Kennedy produced figures to show the cost of living to women—the basic cost was £100 10s 7d. The union claimed £1 17s 6d a week.

Mr. Grenfell, in reply, said that the employers in Wellington -were being asked in practice to arrange conditions for the rest of the Dominion. It was unfair to the present employers, to ask them to legislate for the rest of New Zealand. In the main, the increased cost of living fell on the employer in the higher prices of commodities. The great bulk of the workers were receiving well in .excess of the present award rates. The employers ware firm in respect to hours in standing by the Shops and Offices ActMr. Kennedy said, if the employers pressed the question of supplying-meals to employees, the employees would prefer to get their money in full, and buy their own meals.

Tho parties failed to agree on the question of a 48-hour week, and the claim for a six-day week. There was some discussion on the question of. what should be special holidays, the union claiming Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Good T_i day Easter Monday, Labour Day, and the Sovereign's birthday, a* days on which double pay should be received for working The assessor for the employers reserve- from the list Anzac Day altogether, and offered double, pay for Christmas Day and Good Friday, and time-and-a-half for Easier Monday, Boxing Day, and th_ birthday, ol the reigning Sovereign No agreement was readied on this point,,the employers refusing to concede Anzac Day. On resuming in tho afternoon Mr. Kennedy again asked what the employers coiiSKkred a.fair wage for women-or for. the lowest rate in kitchen work. Did the employers think that- £1 12s 6d was a living wage? n ?lh G/ e,^ ell i ,said^ was the function ' of toe Arbitration Court to settle qu ea -„ tions of base wages. The Wellington county award was the only basis they could suggest at present. •■ J ' Mr Kennedy: "The lowest wage is m^ 3< Z °t h SexeS- A^d we ■» en titled to the bonus of the Arbitration Court as well, and we are going to get it. if the employers are not prepared to give that, then they will give nothing." Mr. Grenfell : "Wo cannot agree to that amount for females." The Commissioner: "Surety, if the conaitions are fair in the country they are fair for the town." Mr. O'Malley : "Equal pay for equal ___ri t ™ riShfc throush the" «H»nh. _ Mr. ■'Kennedy : "Wo want to test the sincerity of tho employer to do a fair thang for the employee." Mr. O'MalJey said that the union was going to insist on.the whole award. At this stage the case was adjourned' I till 10 a.m. on Saturday, to enable the employers to meet and discuss the posii tion..