AWARD SOUGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 20, 25 January 1937, Page 11

AWARD SOUGHT

INSURANCE WORKERS HEARING REOPENED . A WAGES OFFER ,* Amendments to the original wages proposals were tabled by the employers' assessors in the 1 adjourned hearing for a Dominion insurance workers' '"award, which was reopened before the ". Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. M. J. Reardon) today. The applicants were the New Zealand General Insurance " Industrial Union of Workers, and the .'respondents the Alliance Assurance - Co., Ltd., and others. The assessors for the applicants were Messrs. P. J. Doogan, E. E. Hammond, W. D. Lane, A. D. Chant, and F. D. Cornwell (agent), and for the respondents, Messrs. W. R. Saunders, D. E. Wilkie, C. H. Hudson, D. W. Duff, and W. J. Mountjoy (agent). The following general wage-scale, was sought by the employees:— Males.—First year, £65 to £78; second, £91 to £105 (including statutory half-yearly increases); third, £120; fourth, £140; fifth, £165; sixth, '£190; seventh, £210; eighth, £230; 'ninth, £255; tenth, £280; eleventh, • £295; twelfth, £310; thirteenth, £325; • fourteenth, £340; fifteenth, £355; sixteenth £370; seventeenth, £385; •eighteenth, £400. Females.—First year, £65 'to £78; second year, £91 to £105; third, £115; 'fourth,, £130; fifth, £145; sixth, £160; seventh, £175; eighth, £190; ninth, ' £200; tenth, £210. Scale for Industrial Superintendents ;,(life offices). —Years of service as i superintendent: During first year, • £250; second, £275; third, £300; 'fourth, £315; fifth, £330; sixth, £345; seventh, £360; eighth, £370; ninth, "£380; tenth, £390; eleventh, £400. THE NEW SCALE. The employers offered tn» following amended scale of wages:— ' Males.—First six months, £29; second six months, £36; third six months, £41 4s; fourth six months, £46 8s; fifth six months, £51 12s; sixth six months, £56 16s; fourth year, £130; fifth year, £155; sixth year, £180; seventh year, £210; eighth year, £230; ninth year, £235; tenth year, £280; ..eleventh year, £295; twelfth year, ,£3lO. , Females (Industrial Department).— •First six months, £23 8s; second six months, £28 12s; third six months, £33 16s; fourth six months, £39; fifth six months, £44 4s; sixth six months, £49 8s; fourth year, £115; fifth year, £125; sixth year, £135. Females (General Insurance).—First six months, £29; second six months, £36; third six months, £41 4s; fourth ,'six months, £46 8s; fifth six months, '" £51 12s; sixth six months, £56 16s; " fourth year, £130; fifth year, £145; sixth year, £160. The employees asked for a working week of 37} hours over five days. The employers asked for a working week of 38 hours over six days. Mr. Mountjoy said that since the council had last met, the employers' assessors had given the claims very close consideration, and there were certain clauses to which they could not agree; r For Instance, they insisted- that industrial superintendents must be excluded from the award, as they occupied executive ' positions. Nor "could they agree to any salary premiums for workers holding diplomas, or for chief clerks. ■■■■• On the question of holidays, the workers' assessors agreed to meet the employers' proposal whereby an employee qualified for three weeks' holiday on full pay after thirteen years' •service. Mr. Mountjoy said that the em.ployerg could not agree to 5 per cent, /.additional for Wellington employees. QUESTION OF MARRIAGE. " Objection was taken by the employees' assessors to the suggestion that the following clause should be deleted:—"No employer shall seek to influence the private lives of his employees, or in any way endeavour to •'control their conduct outside office ■hours." Mr. Chant said that the clause protected workers anxious to get married, and in receipt of a sufficient salary to do so, from being. dictated to by an employer. Mr. Mountjoy: No employer would stop me ■ from getting married if I Vanted to and I think that applies to the average man. No reasonable employer would try and do anything like thatMr. Chant: We want protection from the unreasonable employer. He added that he knew of a recent ease, but the employee had got married. An employers' assessor: Did he get the sack? . Mr. Chant: No. It was suggested that the disputes clause would cover any eventuality of this nature. Further consideration of the clause was deferred. Mr. Saunders said that as a result of recent Government decisions, the ■writing of compensation insurance was going to be more costly, and it remained to see whejfier the companies could write this class.of business. They were going to be seriously handicapped by this, and also by the State's bonus distribution. He mentioned the matter by way of explanation. In reply to a remark by the Commissioner, Mr. Saunders said that' if the State were forced to take over all this "class of insurance, the effect on the Companies' employees would obviously be serious. 1 : On resuming this afternoon the 'Avorkers' assessors after considering the employers' wages proposals, asked that the period of service for male Workers' should be increased to 15 ■years and that the wages at this stage should be £355; also that females in the general insurance division should receive £190 in their eighth year, and "those in the industrial departments £160 In their eighth year. The employers retired to consider these suggestions. (Proceeding.)