SHOP TRADE

Evening Post, Volume 65, Issue 65, 17 March 1924, Page 8

SHOP TRADE

THE NEW CONDITIONS

ARBITRATION COURT'S DECISION

"NOT UNANIMOUS, BUT ACCEPT AWARD."

"The following matters were referred to the Court for settlement: Classification, wages, weekly employment, temporary or casual workers, hours, weekly half-holiday, holidays, proportion, accommodation for females, overtime, preference, closing of shops, and term of award. The members of the Court were not unanimous in respect of every clause, but decided to accept the award, in the form in which it now appears, without dissent." This was the memorandum attached by the Judge (Mr. Justice Frasser) in issuing the Dominion award in the Shop Assistants' Dispute to-day. In making a classification the award separates as follows: Departmental managers and manageresses, windowdressers, travellers, seniors, juniors, storemen and. packers, and (where not provided for under any other award or agreement) porters. WAGES. Wages are set out on a different basis compared with the old award. The minimum wages payable to shop assistants are 13s 6d weekly for males under 15 years, and 10s 6d for females, rising as follow: —15 to 16 years, males 16s 3d, females 13s 6d; 16 to 17 years, 22s 6d and 17s 9d; 17 to 18 years," 30s and 21s; 18 to 19 years, 42s 6d and 25s 3d; 19 to 20 years, 55s and 30s; 20 to 21 years, 65s and 355; 21 years to 22 (years, 80s and 41s; 22 to 23 years, 85s and 4?s 6d; 23 years and over, 92s 6d and 52s 6d. When junior assistants enter on I the duties of shop assistants -without previous experience the wages are fixed as follow :—Between 15 and 16 years, first year, males 13s 6d, females 10s 6d, second year 16s 3d and 15s 6d ;. 16 to 17 years, first year 16s 3d and 12s 6d, second year 2Cs and 15s 9d; 17 to 18 years, first year 22s 6d and 17s 9d, tveond year | 30s and 21s; 18 to 19 years, first year 33s 6d and 225, second year 50s and 28s 6d; 19 to £j. years, first- year 37s 6d and 25s 3d, second year 60s and 335; thereafter in each casejzecording to scale. Other wages fixed are as follow : Win- , dow-dressers and departmental managers not less than £5 2s 6d, departmental . manageresses not less than £3 2s 6d, I junior storemen and packers under 17 i years of age £1 3s-6d, rising to £2 18s I j6d between 20 and 21 years of age, and thereafter the minimum wage. HOURS. Hours are to be regulated by the Shops and Offices Act, and are to bo I worked between 8 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. lon four days of the week, 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on one day, and 8 a.m. and 8.30 p.m. on the other day. Outside a tenmile radius of Wellington, Auckland, and Dunedin, the hour 6 p.m. is substituted for 5.30 p.m. Holidays falling on Sundays are to be observed on the following Mondays. Any work done or Sundays, holidays, or days in lieu of holidays, are to be paid for at double rates, in addition tothe ordinary wage. A yearly holiday of one week on full' pay is provided for. PROPORTION. "" The proportion clause provides that the number of juniors in any shop shall not exceed two to the first senior, and ; one additional junior to each additional senior. OVERTIME. Overtime is fixed at time and a half, with a minimum payment of Is 3d per hour. This does not apply to departmental managers receiving more . than idSO per annum, or manageresses recoivmg more than £250. SCOPE AND TERM. The award is to cover Northern, Wellington, Nelson, Otago, and .Southland districts, relating to the following shops : Soil goods, boot and shoe, fancy and leather fancy goods, hardware, crockery, books and stationery, and furniture and *.w"!!- Sl^"V ilCleS; Til 6 tern of «ie award is three years.