BUTCHERS' DISPUTE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 60, 10 February 1925, Page 6

BUTCHERS' DISPUTE

SITTING OF CONCILIATION COUNCIL. A sitting of the conciliation Council WBs held in Palmerston North yesterday to hear an application by the Wellington Operative Butchers' Industrial Union of Workers for a new award, the Commissioner, Mr W. Newton, presiding. Tho employers wero represented by Messrs W. Wolland (Wellington), A. E. Mellor (Napier) and S. H. Sncll (Palmerston North), while the interests of the union wore watched by Messrs G. Parker (Wellington), A. W. Croskery (Wellington) and J. W. Morley (Wellington). •Mr W. McKenzie, secretary of the Jlanawatu Employers' Association, appeared as agent for the employers. One of the chief demands of the union was for a 441-hour week, tho hours on five days to bo from 7.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.; and on Saturday from 7.30 a.m. to noon. For tho purposo of calculating the hours each holiday should be deemed as a day of 8i hours. The employers in the counter-demands asked that the hours be in accordance with the provisions of the Shops and Offices Act, 1921, provided that on five days tho starting hour should be not before 6 a.m. After discussion, a 48-hour week was agreed upon, but the division of the hours was referred to the Arbitration Court. The wages asked by the men were according to the following scale, the counterdemands being given in parentheses: First shopman or man in charge, £6 (£5 2s); second shopman, £5 10s (£4 12s); first small-goods man, £6 (£5 2s); second smallgoods man, £5 10s (— —); all other workers, £5 5s (£4 7s). No agreement was reached on this matter, which was accordingly referred to the Arbitration Court. The union asked that all casual workers should receive not less than 3s per hour for a minimum of eight hours, while tho counter-demand was for not less than 2s 6d per hour and a minimum of four hours. After discussion, the sum of 2s 6d per hour was agreed on, with a minimum of six hours on ordinary days and four hours •on half-holidays. In respect to overtime it was agreed that time worked after closing hours bo paid time and a-half; and time worked before opening hours be paid for at double time. The holidays agreed upon were as at present, a day to bo allowed for the picnic when the fixture is arranged. Easter Saturday, which was objected to by the employers, was deleted. One week's annual holiday was agreed upon, as also was a clause that no workers shall be employed after 12 o'clock on the weekly half-holiday. The following wages for boys were agreed on: Under 17, 30s; 18 years, 355; 19 years, 455; 19 to 21 year, £3; or, if the employee has served three years, £3 10s. The proportion of boys was fixed at one to three men or fraction of three men. General minor matters affecting accommodation for clothes, employment of female labour and other points were also agreed on.