STOREMEN'S DISPUTE

Evening Star, Issue 17350, 12 May 1920, Page 6

STOREMEN'S DISPUTE

Tho Conciliation Commissioner (Mr W. H. Hagger) heard this morning the dispute between the Dunedin United Storemen's Union and a number of respondents —2O wool, grain, and skin merchants in Dunedin and 12 Oamaru firms of similar type. The union sought a new award to replace an existing wool and grain stores employees' award, which has had currency only within, a 10-mile radius from Dunedin. Initial objection was taken by Mr M'Dowell (Oamaru) to the enlargement of the *cope to take in Oamaru, but the Commissioner declined to alter the sccg'o of citation, and Mr W. Herbert (for the union) added that there was a movement on foot for Inveroargill to come in also, which would mate conditions uniform. The assessors foi* the union were Messrs S. W. Gasper, W. E. M'Keich, and J. Thompson, with Mr Herbert, as agent; for the employers, Messrs G. BTa'ck, H. A. Salman, and J. B. Waters, with M_- A. S. Cookson as representative.

There was no material alteration, asked in hours worked, and the old award hoars were nfreed to. The wages naked for casual workers were 2s 3d per hour (at present Is 6d, with bonus of 3d) ; for permanent hands, £4 7s 6d (at present £3 6s 6d, plus bonus of 9s); skin, wool and hide classing, £5 10s per week for permanent hands, and for casuals 3a for each complete' hour (no provisLDn in old award) i for stockmen employed at Burnsiie and required to go out overnight for sale day, £1 6s per nulit for head stockmen and £1 2s bd per night for second or third stockmen 5 shift woVk, as specified, £4 13s 6d a week (£3 32s 6d at present, plus 9s a week bonus) ; workers handling manure, an additional rate of 3d per hour; casuals on seedcleaning machines, an additional 3d per hours and permanent hands on such machines, an additional 7s 6d per week over tha casual permanent rates" asked. Tho employers counter-proposed the terms of the old award, with the hours' addition fixed up to March 31. The morning's discussion resolved about the general wage clause for casuals and permanent hands. The employers finally offered for ca*uala 1j 7d an hour, plus a bonus of 3d, and for permanents £3 10s a week, plus 10s bonus. Mr Herbert pointed cut! however, on behalf of the union, %hat it they wont to the Court now on the old award they could get is 10£ d nn'hour or £4 lis 6d. The union suggested that tho employers might accept a proposal for is lOd, plus 3d bonus, and £4' 15s M, plus lis bonus. The employers declined to consider this, and the wage clauses were passed over. J There was no agreement up to the luncheon adjournment.