CHEMICAL AND SOAP WORKERS

Evening Star, Issue 19022, 18 August 1925, Page 8

CHEMICAL AND SOAP WORKERS

WAGES INCREASE ASKED FOB Increased vrngfS t shorter hours, and other demands or tho chemical and soap workers’ section of the Otago and Southland Freezing Works and Related Trades Employees’ Union were considered at a Conciliation Council sitting this morning, presided over by the Commissioner (Mr W. H. Hagger). Tho employers were represented by Messrs P. Rouse, C. R. Murray, J. Stark, E. Sunderland, and A. S. Cookson (agent), while tho union’s assessors were Messrs F. C. Ellis, F. Smith, and 0. Tucker, with Mr J. A. Mil burn as agent. It was agreed in regard to hours of work that tho present award should stand. Tho employers agreed to the following clauses Where continuous shifts are worked each shift shall consist of eight hours, including crib time (crib time not to be less than thirty minutes). Where an extra shift is worked, such as night shift, it shall consist of nine hours, including one hour for a meal, the time of starting work to be fixed for tho convenience of the business. Men engaged chipping boilers or digesters, cleaning sulphur or boiler flues, working in acid towers or chambers, cleaning den flues and fan, or cleaning inside circular bagging machine screens, shall be paid at the rate of time and a-half. Workers employed for any less period than two continuous weeks shall be paid Id per hour in addition to the above-mentioned rates. Wages shall be paid weekly on Fridays in the employers’ time. One day’s lie time shall bo allowed. The following general conditions were agreed to;—Proper provision shall be made for dining and dressing accommodation and for drying wet clothes, the room to he kept clean each day by the employer; gloves, aprons, clogs, and gum hoots shall bo supplied to acid and other workers where required; suitable washing accommodation, with hot and cold water, shall be_ provided at each works; sufficient drinking water of good quality shall be provided; lavatory accommodation shall bo kept clean; goggles and respirators shall bo supplied to men working amongst or handling sulphur, phosphate, liquid caustic, washing powder, and potash where required; privileges at present in existence at each works shall remain in force; when men are required to work overtime after 6 p.m., and have not been notified tho day previous, a suitable meal, consisting of at least bread, butter, and meat or cheese, with tea, coffee, or cocoa shall be provided by tho employer; in all cases where men are called out and there is no work, or less than two hours’ work, available, they shall receive a minimum of two hours' pay at the rate specified. The matters of wages, overtime, holidays, and other disputed demands will bo held over till after the hearing of the Christchurch dispute on .Friday next in the Conciliation Council. Mr Cookson said that the employers could not agree to an increase of more than :)d per hour. Tho wages asked for ranged from 2s Id to 2s 6d per hour.