SHOP ASSISTANTS

Evening Star, Issue 21582, 30 November 1933, Page 11

SHOP ASSISTANTS

CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr S. Ritchie) sat this morning to hear a -dispute between the Shop Assistants Union of Otago and Southland and the employers. The latter requested.a new award, the union tiling the old award as a counter-claim. The majority ot points as to working conditions were agreed upon, the- principal matter at issue being that of wages. It was pointed out that there was a hearing ot this dispute recently in Wellington, and the employers there worked in agreement with those throughout the dominion and arranged conditions that would give general satisfaction. At to-day’s sitting both parties, were considerably restricted in their arguments to the cases advanced in Wellington. The employers’ offer did not constitute a direct wage reduction all round, but suggested _ a readjustment of various classifications of assistants and their wages. Their offer made no alteration to the senior rates of the old award, the only question in dispute being the wages of juniors in their first three years. The council adjourned to enable the assessors present to discuss the matter further, and resumed this afternoon. The employers were represented by Messrs N. Wood, G. Crow, G. Dick, and A. S'. Cookson, Messrs C. M. Hughes, F. Grave, and W. W. Batchelor appearing for the union.