CLUB WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 46, 23 August 1938, Page 18

CLUB WORKERS

WAGES IN DISPUTE

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Although agreement was reached upon a number of clauses in the proposed award for the employees of chartered clubs which was considered by the Conciliation Council yesterday, no agreement was reached on the question of wages and hours, and these were to be further considered by the assessors before the council resumed again, today.

The employers increased their original wages offer by offering to bring the scale into line with the rates suggested for private hotel workers whose new award is also before the. council. This offer represented a five shillings increase upon the original offer in. the case of males and an increase of half-a-crown in the case of females. The employees suggested a higher scale and asked that differentiation in the rates of pay for male and female kitchen workers be eliminated, but this the employers refused. The employers first offered a 46----hour week, but later- said that they were prepared to agree to a 44-hour week provided that agreement could be reached upon the other matters in dispute. Although agreement was reached with regard to special holidays, the employers were not able to offer more than, a nine-day annual holiday, the employees asking for a fortnight. The employers agreed to include Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Easter Monday, and the Sovereign's Birthday among the special holidays asked for by the employees. This, with the addition of Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Anniversary Day,, which were offered by the employers in the first case, brought the special holiday clause into line with the licensed and private hotel workers' awards. A proposal by the employees that the employers should supply and launder all white coats and black alpaca jackets used by club employees was refused, the employers offering to guarantee, however, that no existing privileges in this respect would be removed.

The employers agreed to increase their original offer with regard to stewards' wages on the following basis: In clubs with more than 14 of a staff, chief steward: £6 weekly, second steward £5 ss; clubs with staff of between 10 and 14, chief £5 15s, second £5; clubs with staff between four and ten, chief £5,- second £4 10s; all other stewards, £4 to £4 ss. Other male employees were offered £3 16s if over the age of 21 and £3 if. under that age. This offer is also be to considered by the employees' representatives today.