SOAP AND CANDLE WORKERS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 May 1938, Page 7

SOAP AND CANDLE WORKERS.

COMPLETE AGREEMENT (By Telegraph—Press Association), WELLINGTON, Last Night. Complete agreement on all clauses of the proposed new award for soap and candle workers of the Wellington provincial district was reached in Conciliation Council at Wellington to-day. The clauses in the existing award were substantially agreed to with the exception of those relating to rates of pay, which were increased slightly. The wages clauses in the award, which is for three months, will take effect from April 14 last. 'The assessors for the employees said, in a statement, they were influenced in making the award a short-dated one because of the general desire on the part of the parties concerned to obtain a Dominion award. The terms and conditions of the new award were not to be taken as a precedent in a settlement of future disputes. A 40-hour week was granted to workers employed in any department of a soap, soda-crystal or candle factory and a 44-hour week to workers engaged in tallow, manure, casing or by-products factory. Wages ranging from £1 2s 6d weekly for males under 10 years to 2s 4d an hour were agreed to and for females from 17s Gd to £2 7s Gd. It was agreed to pay overtime at the rate of time and a half for first four hours, with a minimum payment of Is 6d an hour, provided shift-workers be paid the same overtime rate for all time worked beyond eight consecutive hours in any period of 24 hours. Double rates are to be paid for all work done on public holidays.