FREEZING WORKERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 63, 14 February 1939, Page 5

FREEZING WORKERS

TERMS OF NEW AWARD. CHAIN SYSTEM DETERMINED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 13. Application is to be made lor the new Dominion lreezign workers’ award, on which a complete settlement was reached in the conciliation proceedings in Wellington recently, to l>e issued by tlic Court of Arbitration on February 21 after submissions have been made concerning the term of the award. The union is asking for the expiry date to be fixed at Deceml>er 31, 1939, and the employers at June 30. 1940. The award relates to the second largest industry engaged in factory production in the Dominion, the 193738 statistics for which were: Value of output, £21.227,041 ; salaries and wages, £2.138,102; workers, 7835. The conciliation proceedings occupied four days, most of the time being taken up with private conferences in an effort to reach a settlement. The agreement reached in the conciliation proceedings was on the basis of tbe old award, hours of work and wages remaining the same with tlic exception that adjustments have been made in certain conditions of work. These provide for an increase in the slaughtering rates of pay for ram lambs and for workers opening blown tins. There is also a special provision for female workers starting at the ages of 18, 19 and 24. CHAIN SYSTEM. Following is the special clause covering chain slaughtering, which is sul>jeet to the discussions at present taking place in Auckland to clear up the Westfield position regarding a “ring”:— . (a) Wherever used in this section or any other part of this award, the term “chain” shall mean and include every system whereby the killing and dressing of sheep and lambs are carried out iri a series of successive operations executed by a number of slaughtermen. each of whom is engaged on one of the operations of the series, whatever may be the form of the system or whatever variation may he introduced into it: (b) workers shall be interchangeable on the chain where required by the employer; (c) save where agreed upon by the district union and the employer at any works, not more than 35 men shall lie employed on any mutton and lambs chain, and not more than 23 on any pig chain; (d) the workers’ delegates shall be entitled to make representations to the foremen with reference to the speed of the chain.