PAINTERS' DISPUTE

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 141, 16 June 1936, Page 11

PAINTERS' DISPUTE

DOMINION AWARD

NEW TERMS SOUGHT

FORTY-HOUR WEEK

The conciliation council was engaged today in hearing an industrial dispute between the New Zealand Federated Painters' and Decorators' Association of Workers and the New Zealand Federated Master Painters', Decorators', and Signwriters' Association of Employers. The employees' union applied for a new Dominion award. Mr. S. Ritchie, Conciliation Commissioner, presided. The assessors were:— Representing the employees: Messrs. F. Cornwell, W. Shannon (Wellington), H. Campell (Auckland), R. J. Nicolle (Christchurch), G. Spence (Dunedin), C. Leigh (Wanganui), F. Cullen (Nelson).

Representing the employers: D. I. Macdonald, J. W. Bowden, E. J. Bell (Christchurch), A. H.' Penny, N. Taylor (Auckland), T. A. Wells (Wellington), P. Findlay (Dunedin). EMPLOYEES* CLAIMS.

The employees' claims included the following provisions:— Hours of work: Not more than eight hours per day, on five working days of the week which shall be worked between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. No work shall be done on Saturday. Wages: The minimum rate of wages for journeymen painters, paperhangers, glaziers, grainers, signwriters, decorators, pictorial signwriters, paint and lacquer sprayers shall be 2s 6d per hour.

Overtime: Hate and a half for the first four hours and double time thereafter.

Special provisions, containing many details are proposed with regard to suburban and country work. A compulsory union provision is included. There is also an under-rate workers' clause. Piecework is prohibited, and work shall not be sub-let (labour only). In ship work, journeymen are not to be paid less than 2s 6d an hour. EMPLOYERS'. COUNTER PROPOSALS. |

The employers objected to the claims of the workers' union and submitted the following counter proposals:— Hours of Work.—The hours of work to be not more than eight hours per day on the first five working days of the week, which shall be worked between 7.30 a.m. and 5 p.m., and four hours on Saturday, between 7.30 a.m. and 12. noon. Wages.—Minimum rate of wages, 2s per hour. Overtime.—Overtime work time and a quarter for first three hours and thereafter at time and a half. Suburban Work.—Lengthy ' provisions, including many details, are proposed to be made with regard to labour employed on work in suburban and country districts. Piecework.—Piecework shall be permitted at such rate as will return to a competent worker not less than the time wages fixed for any one day's work. Ship Work.—The existing clauses in regard to ship work are to be renewed. . The Conciliation Commissioner declined the application of the Union Steam, Ship Company for exemption from the award; but it is still open to the company to make an application to the Court ] . ■

DIFFICULTIES MENTIONED. Mr. Cornwell, discussing the question of hours of work, said that for many years past a number of employers as well as employees had been in favour of the 40-hour week, and the matter had often been argued out during the past fourteen years. Under the new legislation the 40-hour week would. come into • operation in nearly

all the industries of the country. He did not think the painting industry was likely to get an extension of the 40-hour week. He thought it would be a graceful thing if the employers in the present case accepted the position which had arisen under, the new legislation. If the employers accepted the situation in regard to the 40-hour week, he was sure the applicants for a new award would accept September 1 next as the date on which the new

terms would come into operation. Mr. Macdonald replied that as far as the question of reduced hours of work was concerned, the employers might not voluntarily accept the principle of the 40-hour week, but might have to accept the inevitable. Difficulties, he thought, were likely to arise in connection with certain branches of the trade, and particularly painting. It was easy for men to start working on their own account, and the more employers restricted their own right to work, the greater would be the competition they would receive from those who worked outside the award. That

was a problem which the building and many other industries would have to face. The employers felt that, in-

dependent of political considerations, New Zealand was definitely on the recovery grade last year, and it was hoped • the recovery would continue. No one wanted to restrict a man starting on his own account provided he started level with those against whom he. was going to compete. In regard to working only on the first five working days of the week, it must be borne in mind that those days might be wet, and there -might not be sufficient inside work to keep men working. In the case of the painting industry, how would that position be met?

At the present stage, said Mr. Macdonald. the employers could not agree to the 40-hour week. It was possible,

however, that the other parties to the proposed award could suggest some provision or provisions which would be acceptable. Mr. Cornwell remarked that the legislation provided that wherever possible no work should be done on Saturday. Mr. Macdonald: The words are: "The Court shall endeavour to fix the daily working hours so that no part of the working period shall fall on Saturday." Mr. Cornwell: We want the employers and employees to have the whole Saturday off. It was admitted, he said, that many men had been doing work at prices which had been unfair to themselves as well as to others in the trade. If there was any way in which the employers could help the applicants for the new award to meet the position they would be prepared to give the matter every consideration. (Proceeding.)