GIRL WORKERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18116, 5 June 1919, Page 8

GIRL WORKERS.

WAGES AN© CONDITIONS. The Conctliaion Council met vester3av to hear a dispute brought hy tho Sistehurch ■ Paper-bag, Carton and Uoxmakers’ Union, which consists ol ini'l workers, against employers >n SSutSbV fir W Commissioner, presided. Jesses J' Brown and d. Tgaer and Mr represented . the workers »nd F. Cooper, H. Burgess and W. F. fc^Tho mP employce3 asked for forty-four hours a week, to be fixed by each employer, and the following wages Kit six months, 12s 6d a week; six months, los; third, 17s_6d, touiin, «03- fifth, 22s 6(1; sixth, 25sj seventh, 27s 6d ■ eighth, 30s; ninth, 3os; tentii, iX-Sds forewomen,' 20 per cent a^je those rates. Overtime should be Paid as follows:—Workers receiving up t £1 a week, 9d on hour; more than £J end up to 30s a week, Is an £? U fjw than 30s, Is 3d an hour. Tho /ollowing holidays were asked or Year’s ©ay, Anniversary ©ay. Rood Friday, Easter Monday, Labour L-. y, the Sovereign’s Birthday, Show Bay. Christmas ©av and Boxing ©■ 7’ rates to he paid for work on those daye. The employees asked that i ‘ an e ployce failed to join tho “ n, ® n ffjf seven days’ notice from the secretaiy, the employer should her it theTe was ft member of the equally qualified to perform the particular work, the union to be open to any employee ol p>od character end sober habits. Piece work might be arranged by agreement between an employer "and the union, the employee assr' « JSfffSSS- 1 M r £ receiving 103 a week 6d an hour, f£3”fc, mere than 2ft,. W B.hdwj —New Year’s Day, Carter Saturday, Easter Monday Labour Day, the Sovereign’s Birthday, Show ©ay, Christmas Day and Boxing ©ay. It was asked , that compulsory membership of the union should npply onbi after the new award came into force, and only to employees who had served three years in the trade. It was asked that tne award should operate throughout the Canterbury industrial district. Mr Soper said that from January 1 next all printing establishments m the Dominion would observe forty-five hours a week in all departments. After discussion tho employees agreed to forty-five hours , Miss Brown said that girls did not like starting at tho trade and the employers* offer to begin with, 10s a week, was not sufficient. Mr Renn said that higher wages were asked for boxmnkors than for girl bookbinders, because boxmaking was unpleasant work. . The employers offered the following wages:—First six months 12s 6d a week, second six months 15s, seconci year 17s 6d. third year 22s 6d, fourth rear 27s 6d, fifth year rind afterwards jj/jg. These were accepted, nod it was agreed that overseers in boxmakmg departments should receive 40s a week. The employees’ claims for overtime were agreed to by the employers, and the employers’ holidays were-accented, double rates to be paid for work on those days. Tbe employees* preference clause was adopted, but it was altered to read that no employee should be required to i n >n the union after one year’s service. The emplpvees’ piecework clause was agreed to, also that tbe award should operate in’ tbe Canterbury industrial district from June 3 1919 to Mnv 31, 1920.