Dominion Freezing Workers’ New Award

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7099, 23 December 1929, Page 7

Dominion Freezing Workers’ New Award

MINOR ALTERATIONS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Doc. 21. The Dominion freezing workers award was filed to-day. It takes effect from January 1 and continutSS in force until December 31, 1930. In memorandum to the award, Mr Justice Frazer states that the Court has made an alteration to clauses relating to the hours of chamber hands, the wages of strippers in the gut house, the cleaning of flues, the minimum average wage of slaughterhouse assistants, disputes and the term of the award. In other respects the award is based on the expired award. In regard to clause 31 (K) which provides for a minimum average wage for hourly paid slaughterhouse assistants, it was considered that three clear days’ notice of dismissal was unnecessarily long, regard being paid to conditions governing the employment of these workers and to the objects of clause and the period of notice is now fixed at 72 hours.

The increase of 3d an hour in the rate for strippers in the gut house, which was agreed upon by the parties when the last award was made, has boon deleted. The employers stated that the agreement was made under a mistake. Evidence showed that the operation was a very different one from that performed in the casings department, for which a higher rate was prescribed. Evidence also showed that the retention of the 3d an hour increase would place strippers in the gat house on a higher basis than that prescribed for runners-off, whose work requires, if anything, more care than that of strippers. Further, it would place these strippers on a higher wages rate than meat graders and shop butchers, who are skilled workers. Mr Montieth (the employees’ representative) dissents from the award because of the alteration to clause 31 (K) and the reduction of 3d an hour awarded to strippers. In respect of the former, he states that evidence was tendered by the union 12 months ago, which clearly showed hardship to the workers and the employers’ representative then admitted unfairness and the clause was inserted by the Court. At the present hearing, the clause was amended by the majority of the Court without any evidence from the employers, or any case being cited of hardship. In regard to the reduction of 3d in the case of strippers, Mr Monteith contends it is against the weight of evidence.

Hours of work defined by award for freezing chamber hands are eight in any 24, reckoning from midnight to midnight. Workers engaged in removing soot from flues shall be paid 2s -R1 a day extra, except on Sundays, when double ordinary time shall be paid. For tho purposes of the award, a flue shall be deemed to extend from tftie firing door of the boiler to the foot of the smoko stack.

Wages of slaughterhouse and cooling room assistants are fixed as follow: — Boners, after two years, 2s 4£d an hour, Improvers, first year, 2s Id, second year, 2s 2d. Bonors on piecework —beef, per quarter, lOd, calves up to SOlbs, 7d. Floorm.cn, on piecework, per lOOOfbs, £1 9s; per hour, 2s Id. Gutmen —on piecework, per 100, 4s sd; on beef, per 100, £1 Is 2d; per hour, 2s Id. Cooling floor hands, trimmers, general labourers and others not otherwise stated, 2s Id an hour. Runners off, 2s 2d. Strippers, 2s 2d. Meat grader, if not permanent 2s 3£d. Shop butchers, if not permanent, 2s 4d. Provision is made for every dispute or difference concerning the award to be referred to a committee consisting of three representatives of the union and three representatives of the employers. The decision of the majority of the committee is to be binding and if no decision is arrived at, the matter in dispute shall be referred to a committee composed of three representatives of the New Zealand Freezing Works Employees Federation and three representatives of- the employers. If they are unable to arrive at a decision, cither party may refer the matter to the Court for settlement.

The clause does not preclude any worker from bringing action in any Court of competent jurisdiction in respect of any claim for wages, or otherwise arising ou,t of his employment,