DENTAL ASSISTANTS’ DISPUTE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 26 November 1936, Page 2

DENTAL ASSISTANTS’ DISPUTE

WAGES AND HOURS CLAIMS (United Press Association)

AUCKLAND, 25th November. Approximately 200 dentists in the Auckland industrial districts are involved in the dental assistants and technicians’ dispute, which will be held in conciliation proceedings at Auckland on Bth December. The citation prepared by the union, which is the first of its kind in New Zealand discloses a claim for a 37£ hours week of five days and a minimum scale of wages for male and female workers. The Auckland Dental Assistants and Technicians’ Union claims that all adult employees doing plastic work, metal work, or vulcanite and metal work should receive not less than £7 a week, while those doing vulcanite work should receive at least £6 5s a week extra for each mechanic or apprentice employed in the establishment, while female dental assistants beginning work at under 18 years of age are rated at £1 5s for the first six months, rising by 5s each halfyear until at two years they receive £2 a week. After that the union asks that these workers should be regarded as senior assistants in receipt of not less than £2 5s a week. All work performed by employees in excess of the hours provided in the citation to be paid at the rate of time and a half for the first two hours and double time thereafter. The union claims two weeks’ holiday a year.