CHEMISTS’ AWARD

Evening Star, Issue 22974, 3 June 1938, Page 6

CHEMISTS’ AWARD

REDUCTION OF HOURS OPPOSED [Peb United Papas Association.) WELLINGTON, June 1. Opposition to any change in that hours of business lor chemists was ex* pressed by witnesses called tor ; th» employers during the hearing by that Second Court of Arbitration in Wellington to-day of an application bjj. the New Zealand Federated Shop Assistants’ Industrial Union of Workers for a Dominion chemists’ award. , 14 was contended that it was necessary] for latitude to be given in this industry for the purpose of supplying that needs of the general public cines and surgical appliances. ' ■ No witnesses were called) in support! of the case for the workers] a statement being read by the agent, Mr FD. Cornwell. Mr W. J. Mount]oy, agent for the employers,, called • thres witnesses. Both agents agreed to linu4 their submissions to issues not already] heard by the court in similar claims* and the hearing was disposed of in on* instead of the two days allocated. Air Cornwell said the federation claimed a 40-hour week to be worked between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. on four days of the week, between 8-3 Q a.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, and between 8.30 a.m. and noon oh Saturday. It was considered that Saturday] work should be abolished, but th# federation sought to secure sh© 40hour week first and) then tackle th* question of Saturday work. The wage* claimed were £8 a week for manager* or a worker in charge, £7 a week for; qualified assistants, and £5 10s m week for unqualified assistants, Fasten' Saturday as a holiday was sought, also a two weeks’ annual holiday on full pay. The workers asked that the term of the award be one year, and that th* wages prescribed by the court be tnadn retrospective as from six months, oh at least to April 20, 1938, the date o| the conciliation proceedings. Mr Cornwell also asked that apprentices M covered by the provisions- of th* award. For' the employers, Air AfonntioyJ objected to managers being included ini the award, pointing out that the manager of a chemist’s shop wan usually the occupier, and to mcluda him as an employee would be contrary to the intention of the legislators. It was submitted that apprentices should not be covered by th« provisions of the award as special legislation had been placed on th« Statute Book to provide for aprentices in chemists’ shops. Objection wan also taken to the unions for the apprenticing of female shop assistants. The employers contended that th‘4 hours of work should be 44 a week, toi be marked in accordance with the. provisions of the Shops and Offices Act* 1921-22. The wages offered by the employers were those in the Otago retail chemists’ assistants’ award, £5 12s fid a week for .qualified assistants registered under the Pharmacy Act,-. £5 2a 6d a week for qualified assistants nog" registered under the Pharmacy Act* £4 10s a week for unqualified, assistants, £4 17s fid a week for unqualified assistants with eight years’ service, and 3s an hour for casuals. The'rates of pay for junior workers otherthaa apprentices in chemists’ shops should, it was submitted, he on the same basis as those fixed for junior shop assistants • employed by drapers, clothiers, fancy ' goods dealers, bargain stores and others. The employers objected to Easier Saturday being observed as a holiday, said Air Monntjoy, for, to close diem, ists’ shops from the Thursday prior tc' Goqd- Friday till the following Tuesday would cause serious hardship apd pair and perhaps death to sufferers.