DAIRY FACTORY WORKERS' WAGES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 7 October 1922, Page 4

DAIRY FACTORY WORKERS' WAGES.

(To the Editor.) ; 1 Sir, —I am enclosing a copy of j schedule, and I hop© you will find space i for its publication. It is a. matter of i vital importance to the industry, and ■ may help to remove the dust from the eyes of "Working Dairy Farmer." ■The public will then see that'the men en-j gaged in this important industry are' asked to work 65 hours a week, which is unheard of in any other and for a wage of 675. Is this because ( the men have no unions? I sincerely hope not. —I am, etc., r .. , JUST CAUSE. [Enclosure.] Hours of Work. 1. (a) Butter factories: From 15th August to 31st Ma#, 65 hours per week of seven days. From Ist June to 14th August, 44 hours per week of seven days, (b) Cheese factories: From Ist August to 30th April, 65 hours per week. From Ist May to 31st May, J8 hours per v.' r;olc. From Ist June to 31st July, 38 hours, per , week. (c) Creameries: The hours of work in creameries shall be arranged "between the employers and their respective workers, (d) Drivers: Employers shall be at liberty to make special arrangements as to, the number of hours to be worked with the drivers of horse and other1 vehicles. • • -A ~.- ■""■ Wages. ' j. 2. The rates of wages shall be as follows: During the r'off season" workers who, are then employed' in or about the butter and cheese factories - shall receive the same rates of wages as they received immediately prior to the, factories closing down, (a) Butter far*-! toriesi; (1) Where manager and 6 to 9 ' hands are employed: First assistant or: buttermaker £4 per week, plus housing and allowances equals £5; second, assistant £3 14s per week, plus housing \ and allowances equals £4 14s; alii others. £3 ss, plus housing and allow-: ancesi equals £3 15s. (2) Where man- * ager and three to five hands are employed : First assistant £4 per week,

plus housing and allowances equals £5, second assistant £3 10s per week, plus housing and allowances equals £4 10s; all others £3 ss, plus housing and allowances equals £3 15s. (3) Where manager and one or two hands are employed: General Aands £3 5s per week, plus housing and allowances equals £3 15s. (b) Creameries: (1) Where average daily supply during December exceeds 1200 gals., the manager shall be paid not less than £3 2s 6d per week for the current season, with fuel, milk, butter, and suitable living accommodation, eauals £4 2s 6d. (2) Creameries where daily supply in December does not exceed 1200 gals., the wages shall be arranged between the amployer and the worker concerned. (3) Creameries where daily average supply during December is 2000 gals., or the number of suppliers exceeds 60, an additional three shillings per week shall be paid to the manager. (4) Where daily average for December is 2500 gals., or suppliers exceed 100, an additional six shillings per week. (5) Where daily average for December is 3000 gals., or suppliers exceed 100, an additional nine shillings per week. (6) In calculating volume of supply, one lb of cream shall be deemed equal to one gal. of milk. Duties of Creamery Managers. To carry out the proper running of the creameries and to cart cream if required by the directors. (c) Cheese factories —Weekly wages, seven days: Grade 1 factory, 7 vats or , over, first assistant £4, second assistant £3 14s, general hands £3 7s; grade 2, 4 to 6 vats, first assistant £3 17s, second assistant £3 Us, general hands £3 7s; grade 3, 2or 3 vats, first asist■ant £3 14s, general hands £3 7s; grade 4, general hands £3 7s. , All with housi ing and usual allowances. In grade 4 i workers rank as general hands. Whey | butter makers rank as first assistants. i (d) Engine drivers: Where a second- ! class 'certificate is required, £4 per I week, pluis (housingl a&d allowances, | equals £5.. Such driver to effect his own repairs. Pay of worker in charge of electrical power to be arranged with employer. ■ (c) Youths: May ■be employed at not less than the following wages: From 15 to 16 years of age, £1 per week; from 16 to 17 years, £1 5s per I week; from 17 to 18 years, £1 10s per j week; from 18 to 19 years, £1 15s per I week; from 19 to 20 years, £2 per week. Privileges, (f) All workers in factories shall be

allowed lib butter per week to single men and 21b of butter per week to married men, together ..with. milk, and fuel. Where butter is not, made, equivalent in cheese. ; Deductions from Wages. 3. No deduction shall be ,made from the weekly wages provided herein for any cause save for time lost through worker's own default or through sickness... • ;■.'■-.; ■■ ■ ■ Payment of Wages. . 4. All wages shall be paid monthly within seven days of the first day of each month. . Holidays. 5. Every worker who shall havo worked for not less than eight months during the same year for the same employer shall be entitled to, and shall receive two weeks' holiday on full pay, and holiday of proportionate duration shall be' allowed every worker who shall have, worked less than eight months and more Ifoan tivo~ months for the same employer. For-the purposes of this clause the year shall be reckoned^ in each case from the date of contract of service. Such holidays to be taken during the period known as the lTbff season," and at a time to be fixed by the employer. Accommodation. 6. In factories two or more? workers are employed, accommodation shall be provided to the satisfaction of the : Inspector of Factories, to enable workers to change and dry their clothes and have their meals, and facilities should be afforded for boiling water at meal times. Proper sanitary accommodation, shall be provided. Where steam is available in any factory a 'suitable bath shall be provided for the use of the workers. Housing of Employees. 7. In the case of single men, not more than two men shall occupy one room. Accidents. , ' 8. In factories where two or more workers are employed, a modern first aid emergency case, fully equipped, shall be kept in a conspicuous and accessible place.