FREEZING WORKERS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 9, 21 December 1929, Page 7

FREEZING WORKERS

DOMINION AWARD FILED TAKES EFFECT FROM JANUARY 1. PROVISIONS OUTLINED. [Per Press Association.] Wellington, Dec. 21. The Dominion freezing workers’ award, filed to-day, takes effect from January 1 and continues in force till December 31, 1930. In a memorandum Mr. Justice Frazer states that the Court has made alterations to the clauses relating to the hours of chamber hands, wages of strippers in the gut house, cleaning of flues, minimum average wage of slaughterhouse assistants, disputes and the term of the award. In regard to clause 31 (K), which provides for a minimum average wage for hourly-paid slaughterhouse assistants, it was considered that three clear days’ notice of dismissal was unnecessarily long regard being had to the conditions governing the employment of these workers and to the objects of the clause, and the period of notice is now fixed at 72 hours. The increase of 3d an hour in the rate for strippers in the gut house, which was agreed upon by the parties when the last award was made, has been deleted. The employers stated that the agreement was made under a mistake. Evidence showed that the operation was very different from that performed in the casings department, for which a higher rate was originally, and is still, prescribed. The evidence also showed that retention of the 3d an hour increase would place strippers in the gut-bouse on a higher wage than that prescribed for runners-off, whose work requires, if anything, more care than that of strippers. Further, it would place these strippers on a higher wages rate than ment graders and shop butchers, who are skilled workers. MR. MONTEITH DISSENTS Mr. Monteith (employees’ representative) dissents from the award because ot the alteration to clause 31 (K) and the reduction of 3d an hour awarded to strippers. In respect of the former he states that evidence was tendered by the union twelve months ago which clearly showed hardship to the workers, and the employers’ representatives then admitted unfairness and the clause was inserted by the Court. At the present hearing the clause wai amended by a majority of the Court without any evidence from the employers or any case being cited of hardship In regard to the reduction of 3d in the case of strippers, Mr. Monteith contends that it is against the weight of the evidence. The hours of work defined by the award for freezing chamber hands are eight m any 24 reckoning from midnight to midnight. Workers engaged in removing soot from flues shall be paid 24d a day extra, except on Sundays when double the ordinaiy time shall be paid. For the purpose? of the award the flues shall He deemed to extend from the firing door of the boiler to the foot of the smoke stack. WAGES. The wages of _ slaughteihouse and cooling-room assistants are fixed as follow: Boners, after two years, 2/4J per hour. Improvers, first year, 2/1 an hour; second year, 2/2 an hour. Boners on piecework, beef per quarter lOd, calves up to 801 b. 7d. Floor men, on piecework? per 1000, £1 9/-; floormen, 2/1 per hour. Gutmen, on piecework, per 100, 4/5; on beef, per 100, £1 1/2. Gutmen. per hour, 2/1. Cooling floor hands, trimmers, general labourers and others not otherwise stated 2/1 an hour. Runners-off, 2/2 an hour’. Stripper, 2/2 an hour. Meat graders, if not permanent, 2/33, an honr. Shop butcher, if not permanent, 2/4 an hour.

SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES. Provision is made for every dispute or difference concerning the award to be referred to a committee consisting of three representatives of the union and three representatives of the employers. The decision of a majority of the committee is to be binding and, if no decision is arrived at, the matter in dispute shall be referred to a committee composed of three representatives of the New Zealand Freezing Works Employees’ Federation and three representatives .of the employers. If they are unable to arrive at a decision either party may refer the matter to the Court for settlement. This clause does not preclude any worker from bringing an action in any court of competent jurisdiction in respect of any claim tor wages or otherwise arising out of his employment.