PRINTING TRADE

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1937, Page 3

PRINTING TRADE

WAGES INCREASE OF 5/- A WEEK

[PER press association.]

WELLINGTON, December 9

Agreement on the terms' of two awards, for newspaper publishing and commercial .printing industries, was concluded to-day by a Conciliation Council over which Mr. M. J. Reardon, commissioner, presided. The only matter remaining for further consideration is the clause defining the basis for payment of machine composition by piece operators. The council acted on the recent announcement by the Court of Arbitration that it proposed to make a general increase of b/- in the existing rates of wages of adult male weekly workers. The principal rates in both awards were accordingly increased by 5/-. In each case consequential adjustments were made in special payments. /I general classification, to include adult male employees not otherwise designated, was introduced in the related trades award. The wage for adult males in the publishing department was fixed at £4/7/6. Provision was also made for female and junior workers, and for casuals in this section. Minimum wages for females were fixed at £1 foi' the first six months, increasing by 4/-. each halfyear to £2, with £2/4/- in the fourth year, £2/12/- in the fifth year, and thereafter £2/18/-. An amendment of what is known as the “cast up” clause, which fixes the basis for computing piece-operators’ earnings, was considered.' It was finally agreed that the employers’ assessors should intimate, within one week, whether they would approve this amendment. It they do not do so. the workers’ organisation will have the right to refer the question to the Court.

The Avorkers’ assessors asked for some special provision for adult male Avorkers regularly employed six day§ Aveekly. It -tvas finally agreed that these Avorkers should receive, in addition to holidays otherwise prescribed, one other Avhole holiday annually. The tAvo awards will come into force about December 19, and will continue in force until December 31, 1938. At the conclusion of the proceedings the employers'’ agent, Mr. E. A. Clarkson, explained the vieAvs of the employers regarding wages. He said that the decision by the' Court furthe rto increase wages had no apparent relation to present or prospective economic conditions. nor to the ability of industries generally to pay the higher Avages pro'posed. Employers in the printing industry recognised that if the dispute Avere referred to the Court, the existing wages Avould be raised in accordance with the Court’s pronouncement; but in agreeing to make the increase iioav they recorded their opinion that it Avas not warranted, and that the consequent inflation of the cost, of printing Avould cause a. serious reduction of production, and corresponding unemployment among those now employed by the industry.