FRONT-OF-HOUSE STAFFS

Evening Star, Issue 23015, 21 July 1938, Page 21

FRONT-OF-HOUSE STAFFS

THEATRE EMPLOYEES’ DISPUTE NO AGREEMENT [Per United Press Association.l Wellington; July 20. No agreement was reached in the Taranaki, Wellington, and Marlborough theatre attendants’ (front, of house) industrial dispute heard in the Conciliation Council to-day. An offer was made by the employers to increase the wages of males to £4 10s a week and females to £2 6s a week on condition that a 36-hour week all round was accepted, and a substantial measure of agreement was reached on other points. The workers indicated that they were prepared to accept the offer on condition that the hours in the present award, 32, for ticket sellers and 36 for other front house workers were retained. This was declined by the employers, and the dispute was adjourned till August 9. Mr F. P. Walsh, agent for the workers, expressed disappointment at the wages offer for females. He contended that the wages for females in all industries had been set .at a low standard. This fact* had been recognised by Mr Justice Hunter, and awards of the Second Court of Arbitration had provided for quite substantial increases in the female rates of pay, although even then they could not be considered entirely adequate to enable them to meet the cost of living. “ I would like to see an agreement reached in conciliation,” said Mr Walsh. It was the proper place for industrial disputes to be settled, as the assessors of both sides were fully acquainted with the details of the industry. Referring a dispute to the Court of Arbitration had not achieved the best results. Numerous recent awards had not been satisfactory to either parties. It appeared that the various aspects in industrial disputes were too complicated even for the courts to give a satisfactory decision. The employers’ agent, (Mr W. J. Mountjoy) said that the increased wages for females in the clerical workers’ award amounted to 19 per cent. The increase offered by the employers in the present dispute

from 36s to 46s was approximately 27 per cent. It was admitted that the wages in some other occupations were higher, but the hours were longer than those of the theatres. Higher qualifications were demanded and the work was not so congenial. If the workers accepted the offer the wages for females would be the highest ever paid in the industry. He made it clear that the offers were conditional on reasonable claims being made by the workers for performance workers —workers not entirely dependant on theatre jobs for their livelihood. Mr Walsh submitted that the industry was a sheltered one, being a luxury industry. It was also a wealthy industry, and could well afford to pay. He contended that £2 6s was not sufficient for a girl to keep herself without the help of her parents. He also stressed that recently the director of a picture company had stated that the industry had just completed one of its best years, and that it had no fears for the future. The.hearing was adjourned, the parties to consider further offers made.