LEATHER WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 68, 17 September 1936, Page 11

LEATHER WORKERS

CONCILIATION CLAIMS

The hearing of the industrial dispute between the Wellington Saddlers', Harness Makers', Collar Makers', Bridle Makers', Leather Bag Makers' and Canvas Workers' Industrial Union of Workers and Messrs. G. F, Reid (Petone) and others was commenced today, Mr.' M. J. Heardon, the Conciliation Commissioner, presiding. The assessors for the applicants were -Messrs. C. E. Clifford, T. W. Mitchell,.j and J. Tucker (agent), all of Wellington, and those for the employers were Messrs. F. X Evans, G. H. Savage, B. T. Osborne, and G. E. Martin, all of Wellington. Mr. W. J. Mountjoy was agent. j The applicants sought a 40-hour week and an eight-hour day from Monday to Friday inclusive. The .workers, to; be recognised were saddlers, harness | makers, collar makers, bridle makers, leather. and ■ fibre • bag makers, tent makers, tarpaulin • makers, cow and horse cover makers, • sail makers, and any other class of worker recognised and related to those trades, and the classifications sought were journeymen, journey women, apprentices, female stitchers, and female machinists, and any other class the trade may recognise, The work of, each class was technically set out, with certain prohibitions in regard to special work for certain employees. < The wages sought ranged from 2s 9d per hour or portion of an hour for journeymen, wages to be paid weekly, to £1 5s per week for female stitchers and machinists under 17 years of age, female workers' wages to rise by 10s per week annually to £3 5s under 21 years of age, and £3 10s foi v journeywomen over 21. years of age; journeywomen employed on heavy machines to be paid not less than full journeymen's rates. . . . Overtime was sought at time and a half for the first four hours, thereafter double time. Ten statutory holidays were asked for. : COUNTER-CLAIMS. The employers offered a 44-hour week, eight hours on five days, and four on Saturdays. Journeymen were offered 2s 4Jd per hour. Youths' wages proposed were from 15s per week to £2 10s in the fifth year, thereafter journeyman's rates, and females' wages from 15s per week to 40s in the fourth year, thereafter 455. Eight statutory holidays were offered. An under-rate workers' clause was included. ■ • (Proceeding.)