SOFT GOODS EMPLOYEES.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 271, 18 November 1919, Page 5

SOFT GOODS EMPLOYEES.

IMPORTANT AMENDMENT TO

AWARD

[Pbebb Association.}

•;. AUCKLANJD, Kovl 16. The Arbitration- -Court Jias.filed important amendments to, the Auckland (eight-mile radius) Soft Goods Employers' award. In a memorandum the Court says that, following an application by the workers for a 25 per cent; rise, it ordered a conference, as a result of which proposals were laid before it by a majority. It adopted the employers' proposals, which put Auckland workers on substantially the same position as those elsewhere. The memorandum continues: "In the present Auckland award -the term of service of the employee before becoming entitled to the highest minimum wage is fixed at six years, and the Court did not feel at liberty in an application such as the present -to curtail the period to five years, as it had done in other districts. This is a ■question which cdn only be properly determined on ail application for a new award. The main difference in the rates fixed by the above award and the rates. fixed in other districts is in the increase made for the fourth year of service. It has been represented tons that the increase made in other districts, viz., from 35s to third year, to 55s for fourth year, is too great, and that the effect has been, and will hereafter be, to the detriment of some workers whose services may,not be worth the increased rate, and who may consequently lose their situations. We should regret if awards of the Court should operate in this way in the case of any workers who had spent three years' service in the trade, and shall be glad of opportunity to reconsider the question upon further evidence being provided before the Court." The amendment operates from November 24th.