CLERICAL WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 137, 11 June 1936, Page 10

CLERICAL WORKERS

WACxES AND CONDITIONS DISCUSSED AT* MEETING Wages and conditions and measures to be adopted to improve the position of those workers whose wages are is considered tb be a were discussed at a meeting of members of the Wellington Clerical Union last night. The meeting was a private one, but it was stated today that it was representative of office workers, including some from oil companies in Wellington. Messages and letters were received from several who wished to become members, and from others whose Sympathies are said to be with the union, and some of these stated that pressure had been brought to bear upon the writers to keep them from attending the meeting. Good progress in enrolling members of the union was r.eported, forty from one Wellington firm having joined up yesterday. Matters considered by the meeting were the need for rest rooms for female workers in offices where more than four females are employed, a schedule of wages and conditions, sick leave, meal money, overtime, and holi•days. . An indication of the rates of weekly remuneration being sought by the union can be gained from the following figures:—Junior stenographers, first year, 30s; senior stenographers, £3 2s od to £5; employees operating bookkeeping and analysis machines, £5 10s; ledgerkeepers and bookkeepers, £6; installation and record clerks, £6 10s; statistical clerks, £7; officers in charge of bulk plant, £8; chief clerks, £8 Another meeting will be held by the unibn at an early date to complete arrangements for a dispute with a view to securing an award. OIL OFFICERS. Reference was made at the meeting to the attempt to form an oil office workers' union, and a statement said to have been made that "the oil office ' employees were satisfied with their wages and ideal conditions" was received with laughter. The opinion was expressed that this statement was not the view of all of the oil office employees, .as some have expressed their determination to get better conditions than those ruling at present. It was decided that an effort should be made to secure permission from the oil companies for a conference between the staffs of the companies and representatives of the union. It was considered that such a meeting ! would settle a number of points in ' dispute and ' remove any misunderstanding that has arisen. The Clerical Workers' Union has already written to a representative of 1 the oil office employees suggesting that the oil office employees should meet representatives of the union to discuss ' matters and endeavour to find a basis of agreement. - The union stated that ' while it was opposed to the splitting 1 of the clerical employees into unions ' corresponding to groups of firms, it ! was open to conviction if, the oil ' office workers could show, that a sepa- ' rate union covering oil offices alone 1 was in the interests of all office workers in the Wellington district, and [ would not be less advantageous to ■ those who were not so fortunate on the whole as oil office employees. ! The union expressed its willingness ■ to meet the oil office employees in i every possible way. "Finally, we want • your co-operation, not your enmity," ! the letter concluded. "The policy of s the Government and the law require I one union in this occupation, and ours t is the union which has secured regis- > tration. Its constitution is entirely i democratic, and within it you will have • equal opportunity with all other memi bers to shape its policy, to elect its i officers, and to control its. funds. More than this no one can reasonably ask." | INSURANCE WORKERS' UNION [ A meeting of insurance ofccers was . held in the conference hall of the i Dominion Farmers' Institute last even-' " ing for the purpose of electing a committee for the Wellington division of the union. . Over 300 members attended, and Mr. W. D. Lane presided. The meeting was addressed by Mr. E. E. Hammond. A supplied report states that it was i agreed that the Wellington district • should become merged into the New , Zealand Union of Insurance Workers,' ; j and the incoming committee was given ■! power to draw up the necessary rules . 1 in connection with the union. • | A keenly-contested election for memII bers to compose the committee resulti: ed in the following being returned:— . j Messrs. H. M. Bolton, A. D. Chant, P. : J. Doogan, J. E. Harla, W. D. Lane, , I G. B. A. McLean, J. H. ru-ST.ll, W. A. I Son't and A. O. Wansbrouch.