CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, 17 December 1920, Page 3

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

YESTERDAY 'S BUSINESS.

AGREEMENT ARRIVED AT.

The Conciliation. Council resumed session yesterday in the Court House. There were present the Commissioner (Mr W. Newton) Messrs. E. J. .Smith (Employers), K. D. -Martin,. D. Swallow and J. Goodall (Employees^. The first proposals to be considered were those affecting -workers in the drapery trade. When Mr Swallow was speaking Mr Smith was engrosied in the interesting occupation of pursuing a copy of "The Argus." Mr Martin suddenly arose. "Sir I must enter an emphatic protest' at the action of Mr Smith in reading the paper when business is being discussed. Wo come here in an endeavour to reach some settlement and here is a member wasting the Council's time. I consider it an insult. Mr Smith: I am listening to what Mr Swallow has to say. I can read and listen at the same time. Mr Martin:. "I repeat it 5s an insult' and I ask you to take an interest in the proceedings." Mr Smith folded ths paper and the dicussion was resumed. . • The table herewith, sets out the employees' demands and the employers' offer for drapery assistants: — UNION DEMAND. During Males Females - *■>■ -sn? £. s. a. £. s. a. Ist year 1 10 0 1, 5 0 2nd year 2 0 0 1 10 0 3rd year 2 10 0 1 17 G 4th year 3 0 0 2 5 0 sth year 3 15 0 2 12 6 Thereafter 5 5 0 3 5 0 EMPLOYERS' OFFER. During Males Females . £. s. d. £. s. d. Ist year 16 8 12 0 2nd year 1 13 9 1 6 S 3rd year 2 10 1 11.6 4th year 2 17 0 1 16 0 sth year 3 5 0 2 10 Thereafter 4 4 0 2 6 0 Mr Smith said it- was no use discussing this award as the employers could not agree to go above their offer. Mr Swallow said he regretted this statement. The employers would not give way on any points but expected tho employers representatives to give way all the time. Mr Martin suggested that .something could be done by discussion of the butchers claim. Mr Harley said if some' settlement could be reached then a better spirit would exist. Mr Swallow: "Well the Conciliation has been all on our side." Mr Smith: "That's not so, we have given away on most of the points." Mr Martin (indignantly) you have dope nothing of the sort, you have endeavoured to cut out parts of the Christchurch award on which we agreed as tho basis. : ... $?£&ta^u\.- _. . - ■ • BUTCHERS. With regard to butchers, Mr Martin said the wages of the present agreement reached in Christchurch was as follows:— lst. Shopman £5/10: 2nd. Shopmen, £5: Ist Smallgoodsmen, £5/10 all other workers, £4/15. Youths under 17, 30/-, 17 to 18 35/-, 18 to 19 £2/5, 19 to 21 £3. A youth between who has served not less than 3 years, £3/5, Casuals 2/6 per hour, 48 per wekk, 8* hours on 4 days, 9 hours on 1 day, 5 on the half -holiday. Hours between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on 5 days, 7 a.m. to noon on one day. Plus new bonus. It was pointed out by Mr Beck that the employers' assessors were not familiar with the butchers' offer and he would like to consult them before entering 1 into an. agreement. "~"~ AGREEMENT IN SIGHT. Mi- Smith asked if the employees ' delegates were prepared to take as a settlement the Christchurch agreement. Mr Martin said they were quite prepared to do so. The Commissioner said that there would be local conditions which would have to b e discussed. If the Christchurch award was agreed to, both parties could sign an agreement to this effect. Mr Beck said if the employees' representatives would agree to the grocers ' award he would agree to the drapers award. Mr Martin pointed out the fallacy of this. The Canterbury Grocers' award was made in November, 1920, while the Drapers' Award was made in February 1919. Mr Beck said that the Chemists were not prepared to give any increase on the present chemists' award., The Commissioner suggested that the awards be agreed to for six months. The wages clauses could then be reviewed. • - Regarding women workers, in the butchery trade Mr Smith suggested that their wages should be two thirds of that. of tho mens' wages. M£ Martin pointed out that in Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin this matter had been thrashed out and the Court had absolutely refused to differentiate in the yages of men and women assistants. The employees' delegates then retired from the room to consider a proposal to accept the wages clauses '.n the Canterbury awards affecting shop assistants providing that in six months time cither party shall have the right to ask for a reviewal of the wages. The proposal was considered by both parties and upon the conference being resumed both parties expressed willingness to agree to the proposal.. The Council then adjourned for lunch. Upon resuming after lunch there was little -discussion, the Hoime'i p'"»n'sidprinsc the wages and iha' -wnrlnne conditions. Mt Harley said that if ftc Canterbury awards provided for mcivjopps in-"•no-os. Mipsp wo"">rl only havo + o "•«- t>mn+p.a to thp Employers nrd the alterations r>« rr'nrwl i'er*. rm.APERY TRADE. The following scale of waegs was agreed upon, for persons employed in the drapery trade: —

Plus new bonus of 3/-. Storcmon or Packers in charge of 2 men, £4/5: others, £3/15: Junior Storemen, 17 years of agfc, £1/5, 18 £1/10, 19 £1/15, 20 £2, 21 £2/5. Plus new bonus 3/-. Thp following are the main points of tho .agreement and these with minor al- # terations apply to the various awards: Casual employees will receive 25 per cent, increase on the above wages. The number of apprentices or junior in any shop shall not exceed one apprentice or junior to each senior employed: Nbt less than seven (7) days' notice shall be given by either party of the termination of employment. CASUAL HANDS. Casual hands shall be paid 25 per cent, in addition to thfe minimum rates. An assistant shall be deemed to be a casual hand if employed for less iTian four weeks. PAYMENT OF WAGES. (a) All wages, premiums, and overtime shall be paid weekly and in cash. ■ (b) All bonuses, premiums, commissions shall be paid in addition to the weekly wages specified, and on. no account shall any deduction be made from the same. FEMALES IN SPECIAL DEPARTj MENTS.. j Any females employed wholly or substantially in the following depart- . monts shall be paid half as much again as the rate prescribed for females in this award: — Men's and Juvenile Clothing, Mercery, Hats,. Silks Velveteens Dress Goods, Manchester Furnishing Drapery, Carpets, Linoleums, Bedding, Cotton Dress Goods, Prints, Furniture, Ironmongery, and Men's Boots. WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY. No assistant shall be employed after 12 noon on Wednesdays. Wages, will be paid weekly and in cash. HOLIDAYS. (a) Tho following holidays were agreed to: — Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, sovereign's Birthday, Trades' Picnic Day. If any of these holidays fall on a Sunday the holiday will be observed on the following day. b) Any work done on Sunday, Christ mas Day, or Good Friday shall be paid for at double-time -rates and all work done on any of the other specified holidays or any holidays observed in lieu . thereof, shall be paid for at. the rate of time,, and a-half. The said payments shalKbe in addition to the ordinary weekly wagte. (c) One holiday of one week on full pay shall be granted to each worker under the Award on completion of each year of service. (d) A worker not completing a year of service but over six mouths shall be granted pay in lieu of holi- • days in "the same proportion according to the length of his or her services. (c) This clause shall not apply to the case of any worker dismissed for misconduct. REFERENCE. (a) Each employee, on leaving or being discharged from his or her employment shall be given within twentyfour (24) hours thereafter a reference in writing stating the position held, length of service. (b) Original reference to be the property of employee, and to be returned within forty-eight (48) hours after en gagement. _ ■ "• . r UNDER-RATE WORKERS. 1 The Court's clause. ! OVERTIME AND TEA-MONEY. (a) Twenty-four hours' notice shall '->c i- squired to work overtime, and assistants Avorking overtime shall be aii lowed 2/- tea money. (b) Under exceptional clreumstaneps a shorter notice may be given by rau- ! tual arrangement between the worker and the employer concerned. In such casos 2/6 tea mor.oy shall bn given. ACCOMMODATION. I In shops in which more than six fe- ..~'-> v nri-:->r<? jm-r employed rrasonnKk? cloak and dining-room facilities, shall be provided '1 iU^KFERRING OF WORKERS. Any firm transferring a worker from ■■.r\n ron-n io another shall pay Mich worker's fare, first-ciass rail or boat, to the place where such worker is transferred. SCOPE OF AWARD. Tire scope of the Award shall be the Inc.istrial District of Westland. TERM OF AWARD. Tho term of the Award shall bo "--Vo'(!2) months. When the conditions were gone through and agreed upon Mr Goodall said that he presumed these agreement's w : are subjected to revision. Mr Harley immediately" stated Uiat they had agreed to make it a condition that only the wages clauses were subject to revieival in 6 months. The Commissioner said- Mr Harley was right. GROCERY TRADE. The wages stated in the Canterbury Grocers' Assistants and Drivers' award are: — From 15 to 16 years, lf>/per week: 16 to 17, £1: 17 to 18, £1 7/6: 18 to 19, £2: 19 to 20, £2/10: 20 to 21, £3: 21 to 22, £3/10: over 22 years of -age, £4/2/6. The minimum rate of wages to drivers of 22 years of age and upwards is £2/2/6 per week. The minimum rates shall bo increased bjf a bonus of 5/plus thk new bonus of 3/-. The proportion oi apprentices or juniors to seniors shall not exceed one to two or fraction of the first two. CHEMISTS. Qualified assistants £5/1,0/6 (including bonuses): unqualified assistants, £4/8/0 (including bonuses). Apprentices. Ist. year. £1: 2nd. year. "V-: third vear.£l/10: fourth ybar £2. ' Female assistant? to receive the same and thereafter £2/5 -per week. • The Court then adjourned, Mr Har- ' ley sating that Ife would consult with the butchers to-night as to ah agreement regarding dages. The sitting will be resumed to-day at 10 a.m.

Males Females £. a. d. , £. s. d. Ist year 1 5 0 10 0 2nd year 1 12 6 15 0 3rd year 4th year Isth year Thereaftei \v 2 0 0 3 0 0 3 5 0 .4 5 0 1 10 0 1 15.0 2 0 0 2 5 0