Canterbury Clerks' Union

Maoriland Worker, Volume 13, Issue 30, 25 July 1923, Page 2

Canterbury Clerks' Union

CO.XCTLTA.TION" COUXCIX S»K(J- . CKKJ)JX(iS, Miss R. Hunter and 'Messrs. H. M. Lamb and R. D.. Martin represented the Canterbury Clerks, Cashiers, aa& Office Employees' Union in: proceedings in a Conciliation Council in Christchareh, *or a iicav award, recently. Dealing with employees in publishing companies, implement companies, and laundries, for each section of which a separate award Avill be required, the employers said that clerks getting £300 a year and OA r er should! not come within the scope of the award, because these generally held confidential information from their employers. Mr. .Martin agreed to exempt cl«r'(cs receiAdng £450 a year and 6v r et*„ -hough he said the principle w&a Wrong. The Union asked for a 38-hour week, but the employers argued that 48 hours was necessary to meet busy periods. The Union declined to agree to the employers' proposition.

The following weekly wage> were asked for by the Union for males and females, the basic wages in the present award being given in parentheses:—First year, £1/10/- (£1); second year, £1/15/- (£l/5/-); third, £2/5/- (£l/10/-); fourth, £3/5/fmales £2, females £1/15/); fifth, £4/10/- (males £2/12/-, females £2); thereafter £3/10/- (males A>4. females £2).

After considerable discussion the employers offered the following Aveekly wages:—'.Males: First year £1/1/-, second year £1/7/-. third year £!/- ---12/-, fourth £2/2/-, fifth £2/15/-. and thereafter £4/2/6 males with 25 years' service to receive not leSs than. £4/7/6. Females: First year £1/1/-. second £1/7/-, third £1/12/-, fourth £1/17/6. fifth £2/2/6, and thereafter £3/10/-.

j The employees' assessors retired to i consider the employers' offer, and on | returning Mr. Martin said that they could not accept the wages ottered, as they Avere too loav. The Union asked for thef ollowing wages a Aveek: — Males: First year £1/4/-, second £1/10/-. third £1/15/-, fourth, £2/5/-, fifth £3/10/-, and thereafter £5. Females: First year £1/4/-, second £1/10/-, third £1/15/-, fourth, £2/2/0. fifth £2/10/- , and thereafter ■£3/10/-. The employers' assessors avoulu not agree to these Avages. The Union asked that the Avorkers employed on night Avork in newspaper offices should be paid 15/- a week above the award rates, and should be allowed one night off a week. Mr. Hester, for the employj ers, said he could not agree to this. j It Avas agreed that casual workers | should be paid (by' the hour) at not I less than 25 per cent. üboA-e the award rates. A casual Avorker was defined ias one not employed continuously for more-than four weeks. The present holiday clause, Avith minor alterations and the Court's prej ference clause, Avere agreed to. OA r ertime avqs fixed at 1/- an hour, minimum. The folloAving wages olfered by the employers were agreed upon:-—Males first rear £1/1/-, second ,£l/7/-, third £1/12/-, fourth £2/2/-, fifth £2/15/-, and thereafter £4/2/6. Men over 25 years of age, and not less than five years' experience, '£4/10/-. Females'. First year £1/1/-, second £1/7/-, third £1/12/-, fourth £1/----17/-, fifth £2/2/6, thereafter £2/10/-. Other demands under the Avages Glause Avere withdraAvn. The hours of Avork provided under the present aAvard were agreed to. .