WAGES IN FACTORIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19931, 27 April 1928, Page 8

WAGES IN FACTORIES.

..> 7 i I CLOTHING TRADE AWARDS. REQUEST FOR INCREASE. FORTY-HOURS* WEEK WANTED, " HARDEST-WORKED WOMEN/* "The lowest-paid and hardest-worked women in New Zealand," was the description applied by Miss A. E. Cossey, in urging the claims cf workers in the Auckland wholesale clothing trade for higher wages and shorter hours, in the Arbitra. tion Court yesterday. . New conditions were pressed for on behalf of factory tailoresses, shirt, silk and white workers, and dressmakers and milliners. A partial agreement had been arranged by a council of conciliation, bat questions relating to hours of work, wages, payment for holidays, piecework and the setting up of a joint committee in each factory to consider grievances, were referred to the Court.

It was sought to increase apprentices' wages as follows First six months, from 15s to 16s; second six months, from 17s 6d to 18s 6d; third six months, from £1 to £1 ss; fourth six months, from £1 2s 6d to £1 10s; fifth six months, from £1 5s to £1 15s; sixth, seventh and eighth six months, from £1 7s 6d, £1 10s and £1 15s respectively to £2 and upward to the minimum wage for journeymen. It was also sought to increase the minimum wage for journey women from £2 5s to £3.

Another condition sought was a 40-houra' week, instead of the present 44 hours. In such a«trade a rest on Saturday was claimed to be necessary. It was asked that workers should be given a fortnight's holiday on full pay. A further suggestion was the setting-up of a joint committee, comprising three representatives of the firm and three of the workers, including an officer of the union, in each factory. The object of the committee was to consider and arrange all grievances arising in relation to a fair distribution of work among all operatives, equitable and standard prices to be paid for garments, and any other matters arising out of the general working conditions likely to cause unrest among operatives, and which might tend to hamper production.

The new Dominion award had not beeu mentioned by Miss Cossey, observed Mr. S. E. Wright, on behalf of the employers. He contended there had been no increase in the cost of living since the making of the previous awards to justify higher wages. On the question of hours, Mr. Wright said the rest of the Dominion had agreed to a 44-hours' week, and there was no reason why Auckland workers should have a shorter week. Although workers were not paid throughout the 10 days or so the factories were closed at Christmas, they were paid for the public holidays, and the fact that they often . took an extra week or mora at that time indicated they were not short of money. There was also a bonus scheme. Mr. Wright contested any movement for the setting-up of a joint committee, which, in his contention, would result in a union official being given a voice in the manage ment of a factory.

Better conditions for male workers in the trade were also pressed for by Mr. W. 8. Moxsom. A reduction in the hours of the working week from 44 to 40 were asked, and other conditions on the lines of those urged by Miss Cossey were sought. On the question of wages, it was asked that first-class chart-cutters, not at present covered by the award, should be included at £7 a week. The following increases were sought:—Second-class cutter, from £4 lis (jd to £6; stock cutter and examiner, from £4 7s 6d to £5 15s; machine pressor, from £4 7s 6d to £6 10s; chart presser, hand, from £4 7s 6d to £6; stock-presser, hand, and under-presser, from £4 7s 6d to £5 15s. Mr. Justice Frazer intimated the Court, in making the new awards, would treat the male workers' section as part of the general award for the trade.