CONCILIATION BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 10394, 16 August 1897, Page 2

CONCILIATION BOARD.

THE BAKERS' DISPUTE. - RECOMMENDATION IN FAVOR OP THE UNION. The adjourned sitting of the Conciliation Board was held this afternoon for the purpose of giving their recommendation in the matter of the industrial dispute between the Dunedin Bakers and Pastrycooks' Union and the Master Bakers' Association and William Wood, John Peterson, and John Hewton, and of a reference thereof for settlement

The members of the Board present were— Messrs W. A. Sim (chairman), G. P. Farquhar, G. L. Sise, J. A. Millar, M.H.R., and R. Ferguson. Mr William Wright was present on behalf of the Dunedin Master Bakers' Association, Mr W. Wood for the master bakers not members of the Association, Mr G. Anning as representative of the Dunedin Bakers and Pastrycooks' Union. ! ' ;The Chairman: I understand Mr Wood has an application to make to the Board. Mr W. Wood, on behalf of the bakers not connected with the Dunedin Master Bakers* Association, said that they wanted to have a say in this matter before the Board came to a decision. They had nob had time to call any witnesses on their side, and it was only yesterday they thought abont it. Everything had been done so hurriedly that they had not had time to do anything in the matter. "

The Chairman: Every opportunity was fiven you to call witnesses on Friday afteroon. The Association was asked to call witnesses, and the three gentlemen, including yourself, who are the members of the also given an opportunity, of calling witnesses, and you decided noti». Mr Wood said they would like to call witnesses. There was such a difference of opinion as to what was a day's work. One man said he could do 200 loaves, and another man said he could not. Before the Board set down a rule they would like the Board to hear both sides of the question. The Chairman: Why did you not call your witnesses'on Friday? Mr Wood : We did not have time. The Chairman : We were quite willing to adjourn the hearing to any day that would suit you.

Mr Wood: Of course it was a one-Bided thing from the start. The Chairman : It is not right of you to say that. You know very well the Board give an opportunity to anyone to call witnesses. The Association and yourselves were asked to call evidence, and Mr Hewton was asked to go into the witness box, and he declined to do eo.

Mr Wood: Wo want to call evidence now to show you both sides of the question. The Chairman: We understand what your application is, and we will consider it. Mr Anning said that Mr Wood had been, notified two monthß ago that he could call witnesses, but he took no notice of it. Mr Wood: I never knew of it until I got the summons a few days ago. After consideration the Chairman said - With regard to Mr Wood's application the Board have decided not to allow any further evidence to be called. Mr Wood and the other gentlemen who appeared with him had every opportunity oa Friday to call any evidence they desired, but they elected to call no evidence, and the= Board think it would not be a right thing to allow Mr Wood to reopen the matter. Furthermore, I am desired to say that tha members of the Board do not think that the evidence which Mr Wood suggests he can. bring would be of much assistance to the Board in coming to a conclusion. They think that evidence in regard to the working capacity of different men would not be of much assistance to them. In coming to the conclusion they have done they have taken into consideration the wages that are paid by the masters to the different employes. I will now proceed to read the recommendation of the Board in regard to the dispute. The Board of Conciliation having inquired into and investigated the above dispute do hereby recommend as follows: * 1. As to rule 48:

(a) Thatthe hours of work be nine hours per flay until the first day of November next, and thereafter eight hours per day. (6) That the hour for starting work be not earlier than 4 a.m., except on Wednesday, Saturday, and the day immediately precedingany public holiday, w 7?Vu 1 ???']l e hour not earlier than 3 a.m. (c) Ihat if the employers are not satisfied with the hour of starting as fixed by the piecedine recommendation, the Association may have that question reopened and reconsidered at any timeafter the Ist of February, 189S 2. As to rule 49: That this rule be agreed to as framed-viz.. In any house where the dough machines are used the dough men may start one hour and thirty minutes sooner. »«"»»

3. As to rules 59 and 51: These were agreed to by all parties. 4. As to rule 52: That this rule be struck out and the following: substituted :-The proportion of apprentices to men to be as follows: for the first three men or any less number, one apprentice; for more than three men and up to six men two apprentices, and so on in the same proportion. 5. As to rule 55:

(This was agreed to by all parties.) C As to rule 56: (a) That the provision as to a foreman's waee be struck out. and the rate of such wage toff settled m each case by agreement between the employer and the foreman. UB (6) That the other wages be as proposed in the rule-viz second hands not less tWSte t>e? week DOt leS3 feper (c) Members of the union to be employed in pre- &? I? non -. m provided there are membersof the union who are equally qualified with non-members to perform tie particular work unZ r take°it edoneand m readyand willi^

(d) The last preceding recommendation is not to interfere with the existing non-members, whose present employers may retain fce n nt ameorotller in «Sr«E

(«) When non : members are employed there shall be no distinction between members and no" 2La I hSli ; rf?n shal l w °* Aether in harmony, and both shall work under the same conditions) and receive equal pay for equal work. "' uu " wnß 7. As to rule 57: That this rule be agreed to as framed. 8. As to rule 58: o h Ti. r l l «! va ? agro ? d t0 fe y all Patios. wtiJi • the . fo j e S°»?g recommendations be em--fc£ e i ln * an mdust ™ agreement, to remain force for twoyears from Ist September, 18b£ The Chairman (continuing) said* Thoas are the recommendations of the Board with regard to the dispute between the nnion and master bakers. In making the recommend m™°f n i. a B tO .8 lv, ?g Preference to union men the Board desire to say that the Arbw ™ C ° tt i t m J the bootm »W dispute, as the Board understand it, laid down the general rule that unless under special dr° cumstances union men shall get preference of employment. That decision hasTS followed in other ca3es, and as there are no special circumstances in this case as were id the seamen's dispute the Board conside? they are bound to follow the ruling £ question, bo far as the reference effect* pastrycooks, that part has been withdrawn with the consent of all parties, and the Board make no recommendation in regard i. '*u i ,B *°l the P artieß now to *ay fiSTi, £ y S? U acCept the«commendiwon of the Board or not.

Mr Annmg said he was sure that the Dm; edm Bakers and Pastrycooks' Union would be very well satisfied with the decision. He thanked the Board for the very fair way ID Mr w w • C ?!? W l 3 on Friday. Mr W. Wright asked the Board, as they S2 . u ?l gh t h °, Urs as a da y' B work, that they should also fix the number of loaves that would constitute a day's work for &

JS2SK: Thatl »-<* been brought Mr Wright said he thought it was ver\r important. J

The Chairman: That may be, but it is not before the Board. It is for your Association to say whether they will accept the recommendation or not. If they do not accept it they can take it to the Arbitration

Mr Wright: If we are compelled to start at four o'clock and a baker who only employs a boy is able to start at any hour he- ! chooses, it is very unfair to ns The Chairman said they could simply deaE witht what was before them. If therecomnidations were accepted and the baker* i™"'!* the Association dS k wffiTffi^ m - ° f the re <»»"nendati on . Sard? UDI ° U to brb * them ***»* 8 u id he had not th » slightest nS i hat ;* he Bakers and Pastrycooks-' titttoX b \ ke ™> **W*g Parties. th !s Mr Wright indicated into line. Mr Wood i Do you mean to say that yoo can Ktenme from Btarting work at whatever aourl_ choose? Mr Millar: ; If your doing ao hoc the effe<&

of bringing all other persona down to the aame level the Court haa that power. Mr Anning said that anything that could be done by the union to bring in the outside men would be done.

Mr Wright: Is there any appeal against" the deoision of the Board ? The Chairman: There is the Arbitration Court, and if you are not prepared to accept the decision you are at liberty to carry the matter to that court.

Mr Wood : The bakery trade is a very peculiar one, and there is no member on the Board who understands it.

The Chairman : We will prefer to be without your comments on the merits of the Board. We must ask you to be good enough not to criticise them now. You can do that before the Arbitration Court. The sitting then concluded.