ONE INDUSTRY-MORE THAN ONE AWARD.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 July 1938, Page 3

ONE INDUSTRY-MORE THAN ONE AWARD.

.POINT RAISED IN ARBITRATION COURT HEARING

(By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Last Night,

The Second Court of Arbitration was occupied to-day in hearing claims for exemptions from the New Zealand Timber Workers’ Award of certain workers in freezing works, motor and horse drivers other than those employed in sawmills or in bush work, and engine-drivers and their assistants within a 25-milcs radius of Wellington; "Iso applications to join parties to the New Zealand Insurance Officers’ Award.

Mr. H. J. Bishop, advocate for the freezing company employees, sought the exemption of coopers and yard hands employed in freezing works from the Timber Workers Award on the grounds of complication over the 40-hour week. The Timber Workers’ Union submitted: (1) That drivers employed in the timber industry were already covered by the terms of the New Zealand Drivers’ Award; (2) that the Timber Workers’ Union was not representative of the drivers; (3) that the rules of the New Zealand Timber Workers' Union did not cover drivers other than those employed in the precincts of sawmills; and (4) that the inclusion of drivers in the Timber Workers’ Award would mean a reduction in rates, as compared with those obtaining under the Drivers’ Award,

On the grounds of complication over a 40-hour week in one industry and 44 in the other, Mr. A. Parlanc, secretary of the Wellington Drivers' Union, asked that men engaged in road transport driving in connection with the timber industry should be excluded from the •■ules of the Timber Workers’ Union. He submitted; (1) That drivers employed in the timber industry were already covered by the terms of the New Zealand Drivers’ Award; (2) that the Timber Workers’ Union was not representative of drivers; (3) that the rules of the New Zealand Timber Workers’ Union did not cover drivers other than those employed in the precincts of sawmills; and (4) that the inclusion of drivers in the Timber Workers’ Award would mean a reduction in rates as compared with those obtaining under the Drivers Award.

Mr. F. L. Turley, secretary of the New Zealand Timber Workers’ Union, said the union was concerned only with drivers who were part and parcel of the milling industry and not with any others. It had had these men as its members for many years, but the Drivers’ Union now wanted to take many of them away. Mr. A. Seed, secretary of the Sawmillers’ Federation, said the chief concern of employers was that the industry should be governed by one award. To have a few employees governed by other awards would lead to complications.

Shipping companies and stock and station agent firms were involved in an application to join certain workers in these firms to the New Zealand Insurance Award. Mr. H. J. Bishop submitted that the test was at what work the employee was substantially engaged.

The Court reserved its decision on all points.