BREWERY WORK

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1940, Page 7

BREWERY WORK

SEEKING DOMINION AWARD. (Per Press As^^ation—Copyright). WELLINGTON, May 21. A Dominion dispute (except Otago and Southland) between the Brewers, Bottlers, Bottlewashers and Aerated Water Employees’ Union and. New Zealand Breweries Ltd., Wellington, was heard in the Court of Arbitration to-day. Mr N. V. Douglas appeared for the Union, and Mr W. J. Mountjoy for the employers. Decision was reserved. The employees asked for a 40-houi five-day week, with eight hour shifts to he worked only in malthouses and cellars; and where a worker was required to work not more than three shifts in any week, pay at overtime rates was sought. For a worker employed on shifts for a full week ol 49 hours, 3s per shift, in addition to the ordinary wage, was asked. The wages sought were: £6 a week for coopers, and £5 15s for lieaders-up • while for all other workers of 21 yean and over, £5 5s per week was asked For malthouse workers 10s per wool extra was asked; for time worked in excess of ordinary Lours, overtime at double rates was sought. The employers asked for a 44-hou: week, to he worked on five days, oi five and a half days when required. The employers’ objected to a fifteen minutes’ “smoko” morning and afternoon, which the workers asked for The employers suggested that during the war the union should carry on under the present hours and conditions, particularly because of the earl> hearing by the Court of an application to, increase wages generally. The wages in the present aware were £5 Bs’ for coopers, £1 15s fo; malthouse labourers and night cellar men, and £4 10s for brewery and bottling house labourers. Mr Douglas said that a Dominio' award was sought to secure uniformity. There was no need to alter th« oresent hours. The Auckland rate had been fixed by the Court, and no in conciliation. The industry had bee well able to carry on with a 40-hou five day week. He asked the ( our fo note his strenuous objection to tin employment of youths in breweries.