PRINTING WORKERS’ WAGES INCREASED

Northern Advocate, 10 December 1937, Page 5

PRINTING WORKERS’ WAGES INCREASED

[Per Press Association.—Copyright .l WELLINGTON, This Day.

An agreement on the terms of two awards for the newspaper, publishing and commercial printing industries was concluded yesterday in Conciliation Council, over which the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr M. J. Reardon, presided. The only matter remaining for further consideration is a clause defining the basis for the payment of machine composition by piece operators. The council acted upon the recent announcement by the Court of Arbitration that it proposed to m'ake a general increase of 5/ in the existing rates of wages of adult male weekly workers. Increased by Five Shillings.

The principal rates in both aw’ard.s were accordingly increased by 5/ in each case, and, consequently, adjustments were made in special payments. A general classification to include adult male employees not otherwise designated was introduced in the related trades award. The wage for >■ adult males in the publishing department w&s fixed at £4 7/6. Provision was also made for female and junior worker’s and for casuals in this section. Tire minimum wages of females were fixed at £1 for the first six months, increasing by 4/ every half-year, to £2, with £2 4/ in the fourth year, £2 12/ in the fifth year, and thereafter £2 18/. Extra Day’s Holiday. The workers' assessor asked for some special provision for bdult male workers regularly employed six days weekly. It was finally agreed that these workers should receive, in addition to holidays otherwise prescribed, one other whole holiday ananually. The two awards will come into force about December 19 and will continue in force until December 21, 1938.

At the conclusion of the proceedings the employers’ agent, Mr E. A. Clarkson, explained the views of the employers regarding the wages. He said that the decision by the Court of Arbitration further to increase wages had no apparent relation to the present or prospective economic conditions, nor to the ability of industries generally to pay the higher wages proposed. Serious Inflation of Costs,

Employers in the printing industry recognised that, if the dispute were referred to the court existing wages would be raised in accordance with the court’s pronouncement, but, in agreeing to make the increase now, they recorded their opinion that it was not warranted, and that the consequent inflation of the cost of printing would cause a serious reduction of production and corresponding unemployment am on" those now employed by the industry.