INSURANCE CLERKS

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 September 1938, Page 9

INSURANCE CLERKS

FIA'E-DAY WEEK PLAN. [PECB PI4ESB ASSOCIATIONS WELLINGTON, September 6. A five-day, 371 hr. week was sought by the New Zealand General Insurance Industrial Union of Workers, when the Dominion award Avas discussed in the Conciliation Council today. The employers offered 40-hour week.

Mr. Mountjoy appeared for the employers. He said that they had offered a five-day week a year ago. It was agreed on the understanding that this was to become universal in the Dominion. . This had not been the case in the clerical industry. Great inconvenience had been caused to business men by insurance offices being closed on Saturdays. Mr. Mountjoy said the employers objected to the attitude of the employees in that they were prepared to forego the five-day week if double time were paid on Saturdays. The employers desired a 51-day week. They were offering less than the existing wage rate's. This was because it was their opinion that they had given too much in the past. Mr. P. Doogan appeared for the Union. He said that the object of the double time provision of the Union was in order to prevent the unscrupulous employers from bringing their staff down on Saturdays when it was not necessary. The Union’s wage claims would run to a salary of £4OO after the 18th year of service, but the employers had made no proposals going beyond the thirteenth year of service, the employers’ figure at that stage being £315, as against the Union claim of £325. In the case of women clerks the employers had made no proposals beyond the sixth year, where the union claim was £l6O. The union’s claim went to £2OB at the tenth year and thereafter. A statement that the future for fire and accident insurance companies was likely to be difficult and that it was causing great worry to the companies was made by Mr. D. W. Duff. This statement drew an interjection: “That story can’t pay! It has been heard for the last 20 years!” The companies had fore knowledge, said Mr. Duff, that certain lines of their business would probably be cut off. He said business figures this year would be less than last year’s, and less again next year. “You know what effect certain legislation is going to have on our personal accident business," ho said. “It is sticking out a mile, and you can’t shut your eyes Io it.” Mr. Hammond: The people lam representing will meet your difficulties more readil?/ than you are meeting theirs. __