CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 18851, 28 January 1925, Page 6

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

BISCUIT AND CONFECTIONERY

WORKERS

A sitting of the Conciliation Council was held to-day before the Commissioner (Mr W. H. Nagger) to deal with the claims of the Dunedin Biscuit, and Confectionery Manufacturing Union for a new award covering increases of wages and altered conditions.

Tho assessors for the union wore Messrs W. Herbert, R. A. Brookes, amt: C. Reeves, and those for the employers were Messrs R. Hudson, 11. Caddie, and A. S. Cookson.

Tho union asked for a foriy-fonr-hour week. Wages were, asked as follows: Workers in charge of departments, £6 aweek; first, assistants competent to take charge of departments, £5 10s; workers on biscuit dough machines, £5 os 6d ; general hands over twenty, £4 10s. Youths: First six months, £1 2s; second six months, £1 ss; second year, £1 9s 6ci; third year, £1 17s ; fourth year, £2 3s; (hereafter, £2 7s. Females: First, six months, £1 2s; second six months, £1 ss; second year, £1 9s 6d; third year, £1 17s; fourth year, £2 3s; thereafter* £2 7s. The. union asked that no female over twenty years should receive less than £1 14?.

As counter-proposals the employers .submitted the terms of the- existing award. It. was agreed that overtime, should be paid at the rate of time and a-half for tho first four hours, ami double time thereafter.

Tho hours clause and the wages chmse were, after lengthy discussion, passed

over.

In regard to a clause, proposed by the union, that no deduction should he made from wages except through the workers’ default, or .sickness, Mr Hudson said emphatically that such an innovation could not be made. It meant that the workers would be paid for tho statutory holidays at present observed. On behalf of the employers Mr Hudson said they would like to see the employees hack on a.u hourly rate, except for youths and girls. That would stop all the trouble about holidays and other matters. Tho union assessors intimated that they would not agree to an hourly rate. The employers suggested tho continuation of piecework, and to this the union assessors, after a consultation, agreed. The council adjourned till tho afternoon.