Pay Rise For State T radesmen

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1949, Page 7

Pay Rise For State T radesmen

WELLINGTON, Fri. (P.A.)—An increase in rates of pay of 2jd an hour from July 1. 1948. and a further increase of l£d an hour for tradesmen, first grade, and Id ah hour for other workers from June 1, 1949, has been' decided upon by the Government Service Tribunal. These are embraced in five orders dated July 14, 1949, prescribing rates of pay and conditions of employment for workers employed in various Government departments. The rates of pay for tradesmen, first grade, are 3/114 an hour from July 1, 1948, and 4/1 from June 1, 1949, and for labourers 3/4.?d an hour from July 1, 1948, and 3/53d from June 1, 1949, with intermediate rates for a wide range of semi-skilled workers. The tribunal consists of Judge Stilwell (chairman),' Mr E. Casey and the Hon. R. Eddy, M.L.C. The departments concerned are Lands and Survey, Marketing, Maori Affairs, Ministry of Works, State Forest Service and State Hydro-Electric. 11,000 EMPLOYEES The orders provide conditions governing the employment of approximately 11,000 employees engaged in many occupations of national importance, such as land drainage and development, food storage and processing, construction of Maori houses, highway and road maintenance, establishment and maintenance of state forests, hydro-electnc dam construction and related undertakings. Agreement was l-eached by the parties in px-ior negotiations extending over three months on all matters at issue covering a wide variety of provisions, including an increase of the shift allowance to 2/6, double time rates for time worked between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., except for shift workers, meal allowance of 2/6, an increase in certain food allowances, welding allowance increase to 2/- a day, country work allowance to 7/- a day, and certain panel rates for time worked on week-ends and holidays.