PRINTING TRADES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21579, 5 December 1944, Page 4

PRINTING TRADES

AWARDS CONSOL! DATED (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 5. The full text of the agreement made by the Conciliation Council in the printing trades dispute in Wellington last week shows that in addition to arriving at a full settlement the council decided to consolidate into one award the contents ot two major awards which have for many years regulated the conditions of employment in the newspaper publishing, general printing, and stationery manufacturing industries. Subject to ratification by the Arbitration Court, the agreement will come into operation at the beginning of January and will continue in force until December 31. 1945.

The council comprised six assessors for both employers and workers. The conciliation commissioner, Mr. S. Ritchie, presided. Mr. E. W. Clarkson was agent for the employers, and Mr. K. Baxter for the workers. The Otago Workers’ Union was not a party to the dispute. Its district is excluded from the scope of the agreement, which otherwise applies throughout the Dominion.

The general increase in wages of 5s a week brings the standard rate for journeymen to £5 3s 2d a week, including cost of living bonus additions and that for composing machine operators to £5 11s. The corresponding rates for night workers will bo £6 18s lid and £7 6s 9cl. Proportionate adjustments have been made in the wages of juniors and females. The lower scale of wages for journeymen employed by newspapers find printing offices in towns ol' less than 2000 population has been maintained. Forty hours is fixed as the week’s work in all branches of the industry. Each employer may fix the starting and stopping times to suit his business, subject to limits upon the days of work according to the kind of business. Provision is made for the working of double shifts, of which one would generally carry extra payment. for night work ol' 3s Cd a shift or 15s 3d a week.

The holidays clause provides for an annual holiday of two weeks and ■eight statutory holidays. If any of the latter, except Anzac Day, falls on a Sunday it is to be allowed on the next working day. One other holiday, such as Anniversary Day, has again been conceded.