SOAP WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 22, 25 July 1940, Page 13

SOAP WORKERS

DOMINION AWARD SOUGHT

Wages and weekly hours of work are the principal questions which the Arbitration Court is being asked to determine in the Dominion soap workers' dispute, which is being heard today. The case arises from an application by the New Zealand Soap Manufacturers' Industrial Association of Employers for a Dominion award. In conciliation council it was agreed that the proposed award, should apply to workers employed in factories manufacturing soap, starch, candles, soda,, crystals, and vegetable and animal oils, and that it should operate throughout the Northern, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago and Southland industrial districts. Mr. Justice Tyndall is presiding, and with him are Mr. W. Cecil Prime, employers' representative, and Mr. A. L. Montieth, workers' representative. Mr. W J. Mountjoy is advocate for the employers, and Mr. W. E. Sill is advocate for the Workers. The employers' wages proposals are for 2s 4d per hour for adult male workers, with Is per day extra for men in charge of five or more workers; from 17s 6d to £2 17s 6d per week ifor youths; and the Factories' Act rates,'with a maximum of £2 5s per week, for females. The workers' coun-ter-proposals are for £6 10s per week for foremen; 3s per hour for leading hands; 2s 9d per hour for all other adult males; up to £3 15s per week for youths; and up to £3 per week for females. I A working week of 40 hours spread I over five and a half days is asked for by the employers. The workers are seeking a 40-hour week with a free Saturday, except for starch workers, for whom overtime rates for any Saturday work are claimed.

(Proceeding.)