CHEAP LABOUR

Grey River Argus, 24 August 1934, Page 5

CHEAP LABOUR

IN CLOTHING INDUSTRY. EMPLOYERS’ AIM. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 23. An agreement has not yet been reached in the clothing trade dispute, before the Conciliation Council. The emnlovees’ representatives said that they did not like the proposed learners’ clause. An impasse bad been reached, but they were prepared to give the clause a trial for 15 months. However, this class of worker should be paid at a higher rate They suggested th e same rate as apprentices were paid under the old ward, with the cut restored. The Union would agree to a 44-hour week. The employers would not agree, and suggested an increase of 2/6 per week in learners* wages, or to increase journevmenwages. CHRISTCHURCH. August 23. Another day’s sitting at the Concibation Council failed to achieve a complete agreement in the dispute affecting the clothing industry of the Dominion. Parties concerned were fbe New Zealand Federated clothing trade employees and New Zealand wholesale clothing manufacturers and others. tentative agreement wa»s reached on conditions other than wages The entpayees asked increased wages for pressers, second c’ass chart (•utters, and journeymen, but the requests were not granted. The Council adjourned till September 11. There was a long discussion on th P proposal to employ workers graded as “learners’’ in addition to apprentices, but a tentative agreement was reached, the employees conceding’most of the employers’ requests. Rates of pay for learners were tentatively agreed on, the learners to be paid 2s 6d weekly more than th© apprentices.