ENGINEERS’ DISPUTE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 204, 29 July 1932, Page 3

ENGINEERS’ DISPUTE.

OPPOSITION TO FEMALE LABOUR Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 28. Ah a largely attended meeting of the Amalgamated Engineers and Allied Trades Union, the opinion was expressed that the proposals of the employers in the present dispute were unjust. Tho employers propose that female workers may be employed under the conditions laid down for male workers, subject to the following special conditions ; The hours of work shall bo 44 per week, a recess period often minutes to be allowed and paid for during every morning and afternoon; women shall not be employed on night shift work ; and the operations upon which female labour may bo used include examining, light drilling, light riveting, tapping and screwing, light milling and grinding, light lathe work, light press work, assembling, soldering, etc. Their wages aro to be those prescribed in the Factories Act; the wages shall bo paid weekly, but be subject to the provisions of the Factories Act relating to deductions from wages. Only time worked shall be paid for.

The meeting took strong exception to the introduction of women into skilled production such as lathe work. For this class of work men would receive Is 8d an hour, while women would start at 10s a week and receive an increase of 5s every twelve months until they reached 30s a week, after which they would receive no further increase. A resolution was carried to refer the present engineers’ dispute to the Conciliation Council for settlement. Matters in connection with the motor mechanics, who are under a separate award, were also referred to the Conciliation Council for settlement.