THEATRE WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 143, 13 December 1935, Page 13

THEATRE WORKERS

WAGES IN DISPUTE

The hearing of the dispute between the Wellington Theatrical and Places of Amusement Employees' Industrial Union ("front of the house" workers), applicants, and Messrs. J. C. Williamson (N.Z.), Ltd., Grand, Opera House, and others, commenced today before .the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr.- P. Hally). ■ '

The assessors, for the employers were: Messrs. W. Burton, R. Shepard, G. Harcourt, J. M. Dunn, with W. J. Mountjoy as advocate. The union's assessors were: Messrs. E. Harvey, A. Boyd, E. Meadows, and J. Holmes, with A. W. Croskery as advocate.

The claims of the union, whij.e admitting that hours of work should be fixed according to the exigencies of the particular theatre, stipulated that weekly hours for continuous theatres should not exceed 32 for ticket sellers, and 36 for ticket takers, doorkeepers, ushers, and other attendants. Minimum rates sought were £2 12s 6d throughout, with Is per day extra for head ushers.

For night shows the hours sought were two and three-quarter nightly and two hours at matinees for ticket sellers, and from 6.45 p.m.. until the clearing of the house for attendants, and from 6.30 p.m. in the case of theatres where the. performance commences- earlier. than 8 p.m. Wages sought were 5s 6d per performance for all attendants other than caretakers and cleaners.

Caretakers' wages sought were £5 per 48-hour week for continuous theatres, and £4 12s 6d for night shows, cleaners.to be paid not less than 2s an hour. Special provision is made for payment for Sunday meetings. Seven days' annual holiday after twelve months' continuous , service, uniforms to be provided by the employer, and a laundry allowance of 5s a week where attendants are required to wear dress suits were provided for in the claims.

The employers' counter proposals were for £1 10s 7d per week of 32 hours for youths and female ticket sellers, £2 7s 6d for male,ticket takers, doorkeepers, and other theatre attendants per 36-hour week, females £1 10s 7d, 4s for all theatre attendants per performance, £3 11s 6d per week for caretakers, an additional 11s 3d to be paid to caretakers required to act as ticket takers, doorkeepers, or ushers; laundry allowance where dress suits are worn, 2s per week.