NEW AWARD SOUGHT

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4870, 14 July 1936, Page 3

NEW AWARD SOUGHT

DAIRY FACTORY WORKERS. CONCILIATION COUNCIL APPROACHED. An application under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1925, and amendments, has been lodged by the Auckland Creameries, Cheese and Butter Factories Employees' Industrial Union of Workers for hearing by a Council of Conciliation. Cited as respondents to the dispute are all the dairy companies in the Auckland province, the N.Z. Coop. Herd Testing Association, and Messrs Amburys Ltd. The Union has recommended Messrs L. Alexander, W. McGiven and J. P. John (the Union secretary) as suitable persons for appointment as one or more of the four assessors to sit with the Commissioner on behalf of the Union. In the application it is asked that the hours of work be not more than 40 hours per week of six days; when more than eight hours' work is performed in any one day overtime shall be paid for such extra hours worked. Minimum wages are set out for the various butter and cheese factories, according to the number of employees. The wage for creamery employees is based on average supply during the month of December. Casein factories are classed on the same basis as butter factories, where a manager and at least fifteen hands are employed. The engine driver who is required to hold a first class certificate as a stationary engine driver is to be paid not less than £5 10s per week —the same as the first assistant in the factory. Firemen required to hold a second class ticket are to be paid at least £5 per week. A minimum wage for youths, according to age, is stipulated, and females must be paid at least the following wages: Under 18 years £1 10s per week; 19 years and over £2 5s per week. No deductions from the weekly wage may be made, except for time lost through the worker's default or sickness. No worker is to be required to work more than five hours continuously without a meal. Where work commences before 6.30 a.m. or continues after 6 p.m. half an hour is to be allowed for a meal without deduction. Wages are to be paid in full weekly. Employees shall not be called upon to unload while tliey are engaged in manufacturing cheese or butter, and each employee shall be allowed a ten minute smoke-o morning and afternoon. All overtime is to be paid at time and a half for the first four hours, and double time thereafter.

Two weeks holiday on full pay is to be granted on completion of each year of service. All workers employed on statutory holidays are to be paid at double time rates —the days are Christinas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Labour Day, King's Birthday and Sundays. In factories where two or more workers are employed suitable accommodation must be provided to enable the workers to change and dry

their clothes and have their meals and facilities must be provided for boiling water at meal times by steam jet or otherwise. Where steam is available in any factory, a suitable bath must be provided for the use of the workers employed there. A modern first aid emergency case, fully equipped, must be kept in a convenient and accessible place.

Only financial members of the Union may be employed, and the Union's secretary or organised is to have the right to interview workers during the course of their employment. New employees must be notified to the Union by the employer. Managers in control of butter and cheese factories who are responsible for the employment and dismissal of hands are exempted from the provisions of the award. All workers under the award, if they so desire, are to be supplied with butter, cheese, milk, cream and fuel at wholesale rates, provided that such goods are used only by the employees for their personal use or for those dependent upon them. Can washers and others engaged in wet positions must be supplied with suitable aprons free; where it is compulsory for employees to wear white overalls the employer must supply them.

It is asked that the award be for one year, and any dispute not provided for in the award shall be settled between the particular employer concerned and the secretary or president of the Union; in case of no agreement being reached the dispute is to be referred to the local Conciliation Commissioner who may either decide the matter or refer it to the Court. The award is to be limited to employers carrying on business in the Northern Industrial District, but shall not extend to the Poverty Bay district, which lies outside a line drawn from the East Cape along the main range to the boundary of the Wellington Industrial District.