Private Hotel Workers’ Dispute

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 180, 2 August 1938, Page 7

Private Hotel Workers’ Dispute

AGREEMENT REACHED ON MOST POINTS Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. With the exception of a number ef machinery clauses an agreement was reached in the first day's bearing of the Dominion private hotels’ industrial dispute between the New Zealand Fedorated Hotel, Restaurant and Related Trades Employees’ Industrial Association of Workers and the New Zealand Private Hotelkeepers’ Industrial Association of Employers, which began in Conciliation Council at Wellington today. Both the claims and counter claims were amended during the dispute in an effort to reach a settlement. The hearing will be resumed to-morrow, when the employers will indicate their attitude towards the amended wages demands of the workers.

The applicant union sought a 40-hour week and substantial increases in wages, pointing out that the present rates had been in existence for many years. Later they advised they were prepared to accept a 44-hour week on condition that the other matters were satisfactorily settled. The employers offered an increase in wages all round by 2s 6d a week, with the exception of certain female workers, for whom an increase of Is 6d a week was offered, conditional on the 44-hour week being retained.

For the workers Mr. Young stated they were prepared to accept the present award scale of wages for kitchen hands, but sought one scale —that for males —for both male and female work-

ers. A 12$ per cent, increase was sought on the existing scale for diningroom hands.

On behalf of the employers Mr. W. J. Mountjoy pointed out that not more than 5 per cent, of kitchen hands were males. In asking for one scale to operate the applicant union was seeking substantial increases for 95 per cent, ot workers, at rates which were higher than in any award for females. “If wo were to agree to these ratet we would be placing female workers m private hotels a long way above tha rates in licensed hotels,” said Hr. Mountjoy, who then pointed out that in the past tho wages scale applying in private hotels had always been less than for licensed hotels. Need Liquor License to Fay High Wagw. The employers’ assessor said private hotels had only one source of income, accommodation. * ‘Give us a license to sell beer and we might be able to consider higher wages,” he said. Making profits in private hotels was no easy matter, he said. Mr. Young contended this was an unsound argument. Private hotel employers were not entitled to ask ior special consideration because they had no licenses to sell liquor. They were not compelled to provide accommodation, whereas licensed hotels were compelled to whether they liked it or not. Private hotel owners were in the accommodation business because they liked it. The hearing was adjourned to enabl# the employers to consider the amended wages claims of the union.