INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

Northern Advocate, 3 August 1932, Page 4

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

CONCILIATION COUNCIL. AUCKLAND PROCEEDINGS. (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, This Day. In view, of the radical change legislation has effected in the method of dealing with industrial disputes, considerable interest will attach to the Conciliation Council proceedings which will open in Auckland next week.' ■ Six local disputes arc to bo heard, and the dates of the fixtures are now available. These are as under: — August f>.—Timber Yard and Sawmill Workers. August 11.—Iron Workers’ Labour-

ers. August 12. —Fish Trade Employees. August Id. —Shop Assistants. September 1. —(Biscuit and Confectionery Workers. September d.—Towage Vessel Work

The shop assistants’ dispute has already been heard in Conciliation Council on a Dominion basis, but no agreement was arrived at. With regard to the biscuit and confectionery workers’ dispute, the union has asked that a Dominion dispute, be heard in Christchurch on August 10. If a settlement " is' arrived at in those proceedings, the necessity for the hearing in Auckland on September 1 will disappear.

An outline of the proposals advanced by the employers and employees in the biscuit and confectionery trade was given this morning. The employers are seeking a. 48 hour week for male workers and a 4:1 hour week for females. At present the hours are 4:1 all round. The union proposal is for a 41.{-hour week all round. Concerning the wages of adult male workers, both sides suggest that the rates in thr existing award continue. The employers are asking for reductions in the wages of youths and female workers, while the union advocates the retention of the present award scales, less the Court’s 10 per eeut. order. The reductions the employers, are socking in the-wages of youths range from ;>/ a week in the first year to 10/0 a week in the final year, and in the case of the . female workers 4/9 a week in the first year to 4/ a week in the fifth rear. For overtime the union is asking for time and a half for the first four hours and double time thereafter. The employers suggest time and a quarter for the first- throe hours and time and a half thereafter.