THE ARBITRATION COURT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16850, 15 May 1918, Page 9

THE ARBITRATION COURT

STOREMEN IN THE CITY.

AN AWARD OF WIDE SCOPE

Under an award just made by the Arbitration Court, the storemen employed in a great variety of businesses in the city — those of warehousemen, and various other employments—have their terms of employment regulated. The dispute which brought about the award was that raised by the Auckland City United Storemen's Union. A memorandum attached to the award states that the Court had serious doubts as to whether it was justified in making an award owing to the variety of occupations followed by the different employers cited as parties, and to the fact that the greater part of the workers -strongly objected to being brought under the award. On the other hand, the employers cited made counterproposals, in which they practically adopted the terms of the Wellington award, which covered a similar variety of employers, and evidence was given showing that a few of the employers were paying their workers less than the amount which the Court had hold to be a reasonable living wage for adult workers. The award itself was based upon the Wellington award, but the minimum wages had been increased by the addition of a war bonus of 10 per cent. In view of the fact that only a small proportion of the workers covered by the award were members of the union, the Court had made no provision for preference to unionists.

Adult storemen and packers are awarded a minimum wage of £2 15s a week, with a graduated scale for juniors, ranging down to 15s a week for those under 17, and a war bonus of 10 per cent, is provided for. The proportion of juniors to seniors is not to exceed one to three or fraction of three. The week's work, which is not regulated by the labour laws, is to be from 44 to 48 hours, according to the custom prevailing in the various establishments concerned. The ordinary day's work is not to exceed nine hours, and overtime is to be paid for at time and a-half, with double rates for work on Christmas Day and Good Friday. The term of the award is to be two years.

BREWERS AND WINE STORES.

WAGES AND OVERTIME RATES.

The award of the Arbitration Court in regard to the dispute raised by the Auckland brewers', wine, and spirit merchants' employees has been filed. The only substantial questions which were referred to the Court by the Conciliation Council were those of wage.3 and rates of overtime. The award fixes the minimum rates of wages as follows: Brewery labourers, £2 15s a week of 46 hours; chilling-room men, £3 a week of 46 hours; night cellarmen and men connecting and disconnecting hose in chilling-room (other than chilling-room men), £2 17s 6d a week of 46 hourc; bottling-house labourers, £2 15s a week of 48 hours; these classes to have a war bonus at the rate of 5s per full week worked. Youths between 17 and 21 are given wages on a ecale ranging from £1 7g 6d to £2 per 48 hours' week, with 10 per cent, war bonus; casual labour to be paid for at Is 4£d an hour. Overtime is provided for as follows: —Chilling-room men, brewery and bottling-house labourers and night cellarmen, Is 8d for the first three hours and 2s thereafter, Sunday work to be paid for at the rate of 2s an hour, and in no case shall the worker receive less than 6s. The rate for holidays is to be Is 6d an hour in addition to ordinary wages.