ENGINEERING INDUSTRY

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 July 1932, Page 2

ENGINEERING INDUSTRY

WOMEN’S WORK EXTENDED. [per press association.] WELLINGTON, July 28. At a. largely attended meeting of the Amalgamated Erigineers and Allied Trades’ Union, the opinion was expressed that tho proposals of the employers in the present dispute were unjust. The employers propose that female wdrkers may be employed under conditions laid down for male workers, subject to the following special conditions: —The hours of work shall be 44 a week, a recess period of ten minutes to be allowed and paid for during every morning and afternoon. Women shall not be employed on night shift work, and the operations upon which female labour may be used includes examining, light drilling, light riveting, tapping and screwing, light milling and grinding, light lathe work, light press work, assembling, soldering, etc. Tho wages are to be those prescribed in. the Factories Act. Tim wages shall bo paid weekly, but subject to provisions of the Factories Act relating to deductions from wages. Only the time worked shall be paid for. Tho meeting took strong exception to tho introduction of women into skilled production, such as lathe work. For this class of work men would receive 1/8 an hour, while women would start at 10/- a week, and 5/- increase every twelve months, until they reach thirty shillings a week, after which they receive no further increase.

Tho resolution was carried to refer the present engineers’ dispute to the Conciliation Council for settlement. Matters in connection with the motor mechanics, who are under a separate award, were also referred to the Conciliation Council for settlement.