DENTAL DISPUTE

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 99, 23 October 1936, Page 11

DENTAL DISPUTE

SECOND AGREEMENT

ASSESSORS CONGRATULATED

. At the conclusion of the hearing of the dispute yesterday between the Wellington District Dental Employers' Guild and the female attendants, the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. S. Ritchie) stated that he had had a rather unique experience, in that he had presided at two sittings oil the conciliation council in one day in two separate disputes, in both of which a complete settlement had been secured. "Very creditable work has been put in here today," said the Commissioner at the conclusion of the sitting. "It shows that dentists and their assistants are endowed with a considerable amount of common sense, in getting together and making this agreement. It is really an excellent performance to meet in conciliation council for the first time and reach a complete agreement." During the course of discussion on the hours of work clause, Mr. A. W. Nisbet, for the employers, said it was impracticable and not in the public interest to attempt to carry on: their profession without having the nurses in attendance all the time. Nurses were indispensable to dentists, and they^ recognised that. ■ For a time it seemed that hours of work and wages questions were going to hold the proceedings, up, but after both parties had conferred in private, agreement was reached on all clauses. HOUES AND WAGES. It was agreed to adopt a 42-hour week, the hours to be worked between 8.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on five days of the week and 8.30 a.m. and 12 noon on the weekly half-holiday. The minimum wages for women attendants are to start at £1 per week, rising by 5s increments, at six-monthly intervals, to £ 1.15s At the end of two years, and then by six-monthly increments of 7s 6d to £2 10s at the. end of three years. Senior attendants who do bookkeeping without the assistance of an accountant and/or are employed up to one and a half hours in workrooms, are to receive a minimum'of £2 15s at the end of three years. Overtime is to be paid at the rate of time and a half for the first three hours and double time thereafter. Holidays, as in the technicians' award, were agreed ■ upon, and also clauses relating, to payment of wages weekly, terms of employment, and the scope of the award. ~■ ■.■ Women attendants are to be granted up to two weeks' sick leave on full pay,, but a doctor's certificate is to be produced if required by the employer. The assessors in the dispute were; For.the employers, Messrs. A..W. Nisbet (secretary, Wellington Manufacturers' Association),. N. M. Irwin (Masterton), E. R. Wimsett (Palmerston North), and W. P. Sommerville (Wellington), Mr. Nisbet acting as advocate; for the workers, Mr. L. Rough, Miss A. Coppin, Mrs. E. Kirker, and Mr. F. Gornwell (Trades and Labour Council); Mr. Corn well appeared as advo cate for the employees.