CLERICAL WORKERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 1 May 1937, Page 9

CLERICAL WORKERS

AWARD FOR NELSON WAGES AND CONDITIONS AGREED UPON At a sitting of the Conciliation Council in Nelson yesterday, presided over by the Commissioner, Mr M. J. Reardon, agreement was reached on the Nelson Clerical Workers’ Award, which, as far as wages are concerned, comes into effect from to-day. The award provides for wages rising from 15s to £5 5s for males, and 15s to 55s for females. The hours are, generally speaking, to be those of the establishment in which the worker is employed. The employers’ assessors were Messrs C. Milner, F. E. Boulton and H. R. Russell; and the employees’ assessors were Messrs J. G. West, H. J. Scoltock, and A. A. Johnson. The main points in the agreement are as follows:

The wages clause of this award shall come into operation as from Ist May 1937, all other clauses from the date on which the award is made by the Court of Arbitration and the award shall remain in operation until 30th April, 1938 and thereafter until superseded by another award or industrial agreement. Wages: For males the scale, with half-yearly increments, commences at 15s for under 16; 20s for 16 to 17; 25s to 17 to 18; 32s 6d for 18 to 19; 40s for 19 to 20; and 55s for 20 to 21. This rises to 85s, 955, 955, 955, 95s and 105 s in the seventh year, with a maximum for all in the ninth year of 105 s.

For females the scale commences at 15s for under 17; 19s for 17 to 18; 21s for 18 to 19; 24s for 19 to 20; 275-for 20 to 21. This rises to 455, 50s, 50s, 50s, 55s in the fifth year, and a maximum for all in the ninth year of 555. Hours of Work: Generally speaking, the hours of work of a clerical worker shall be those of the establishemnt in which he is employed. In cases not covered by an award or the Shops and Offices Act or Factories Act, the hours of work of a clerical worker shall be those normally worked in the industry in which he is employed, but not exceeding 40 hours per week. The hours of work in newspaper companies’ offices shall be forty per week, and shall not exceed eight hours on any day. Workers may be required to work on any holiday provided for herein without extra payment provided that for each holiday so worked one day shall be added to the annual holiday. The hours of work in offices of transport companies or agencies shall be 88 hours per fortnight. The hours of work in offices of Accountants and Stock and Station Agents shall not exceed 160 in any period of 4 weeks without payment of overtime provided that not more than 44 hours are worked in one week.

Overtime: (a) In establishments where it is permitted by the Shops and Offices Act, 1921-22 and its amendments to work assistants on one day of the week until 9 p.m. all time worked in excess of eight (8) hours on the first four days of the week and eleven hours on one day of the week, or after the forty-four hours have been worked, shall be considered overtime and paid for at time and a half rates with a minimum payment of Is 6d per hour, (b) In establishments which, under the Shops and Offices Act, 1921-22 and its amendments are required to be closed at 5 p.m. on five working days of the week and 12 noon on the dgy .of the statutory half holiday any time worked in excess of eight hours on the first five working days shall be paid for at time and a half rates with a minimum payment of Is 6d per hour, (c) In the case of workers employed under the provisions of the Factories Act, 1921-22 and its amendments, any time worked in excess of eight (8) hours in any one day shall be paid for at time and a half rates, with a minimum payment of Is 6d per hour, (d) All workers shall, when required to work overtime, be paid Is 6d for a meal except those who reside within one mile of the premises in which they are employed. Proportion of juniors to seniors: (a) The proportion of juniors shall not exceed two to each senior.

Holidays: (a) Each employee shall, in addition to the holidays mentioned in sub-clause (b) hereof, be entitled to an annual holiday of one week on full pay on completion of each year of continuous service or a proportionate holiday on compeltion of not less than six months continuous service. (b) The special days prescribed in the Shops and Offices Act, 1921-22 and its amendments of the Factories Act, 1921-22 and its amendments, as the case may be with the addiiton of Anniversary Day, shall be the holidays to be observed for the purpose of this Award. Transfer of employees away from home: (a) Any employee transferred by his employer to work in a place at such a distance from the place where he was originally engaged as to occasion him additional living or travelling expenses shall be paid, in addition to his wage, extra actual and reasonable expenses. Scope of Award: This award shall operate throughout the whole of the Nelson Industrial District.