METAL WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 151, 29 June 1938, Page 20

METAL WORKERS

HOURS AND WAGES

RECORD COUNCIL SITTING

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHUKCH, June 28. After a record sitting lasting eight days, the Conciliation Council appointed to deal with the Dominion combined metal trades workers' industrial dispute finished its deliberations this evening. Settlement was reached in all matters other than conditions relating to certain machine moulders, which was referred to the unions concerned. The council had sat continuously from Monday of last week without breaks on Saturday or Sunday, under the chairmanship of Mr. S. Ritchie, Conciliation Commissioner. The usual hours of sitting were from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but lest Thursday discussion lasted till 10 p.m. The terms of settlement provide for a 40-hour, five-day week, with special provision for shift workers. Workers affected are engineers, moulders, boilermakers, range workers, wire workers, nail and staple makers, and sand blasters. Actually seven Dominion disputes were involved in the one hearing since it was considered by the parties that, as the industries are all closely related, it would facilitate their workings if there were one award and that it would lead to a more equitable and reasonable adjustment of conditions from the workers' point of view. "The hearing has been a record for continuous sitting, although other councils have taken longer time with adjournments to discuss cases," said Mr. Ritchie. The principal hourly rates of pay agreed upon were: General engineering division. —Toolmaker 2s lid, patternmaker 2s lid, tradesman 2s 9d, locksmith 2s 9d, first-class machinist 2s 9d, first-class polisher 25,9 d, second-class machinist 2s 7Jd, second-class polisher 2s 7id, process worker 2s 5Jd; additional workers in stove-making and porcelain enamelling division, from 2s 4Jd to 2s 96d; cupola furnacemen 2s, 7Jd, metal workers' assistants from 2s 4Jd to 2s 6Jd; boys and youths under 16, from 20s weekly in the first six months to 70s weekly in the tenth six months; 16 to 17, from 22s 6d to 70s over the same period; 17 to 18, from 27s 6d in the first six months to 70s in the eighth six months; 18 to 19, from 32s 6d in the first six months to 70s in the eighth six months; 19 to 20, from 42s 6d in the first six months to 70s in the fifth six months; 20 to 21, from 55s in the first six months to 70s in the third six months.