FREEZING WORKERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20112, 24 November 1928, Page 15

FREEZING WORKERS.

NEW DOMINION AWARD.

SEVERAL ALTERATIONS MADE.

WAGES CLAUSE AMENDED. Several important alterations in conditions governing the employment of freezing workers throughout New Zealand are contained in the now Dominion award filed by the Arbitration Court. At the original meetings between employers and employees the former sought a renewal of the existing award, with minor amendments covering overtime and the transportation of workers to their places of employment, the exclusion of watchmen from the provisions of the agreement, and a clear definition of work in connection with the "bobby" calf industry. The workers pressed for generally improved conditions and increases in wages.

In tho new wages clause provision has been made for work on ram lambs after January 1 for North Island workers and after February 1 for South Island workers. "Bobby" calves, which wero formerly paid for at 6d a head up to 10 days' old, have now been dealt with on a weight scale, owing to the men complaining that calves over 501b in weight had been classed as 10 days' calves. The now scale provides for payment at 7d per head up to 601b, and 9d per head up to 801b.

Foremen and Other Officials. A corresponding rate has been fixed for boners, and the definition of work to bo done on "bobby" calves has been amended to meet tho requirements of the employers. A claim that in dressing "bobby" calves there should be a limit of five men to a team has been granted, subject to a larger number being employed when it is possible to employ them conveniently. It has now been provided that foremen and other officials, who previously were not subject to tho provisions of the award while employed in those capacities, shall not be brought under its terms merely liecause during the off season they are employed on cleaning, whitewashing and similar general work. Freezing chamber hands, for whom special conditions as to hours and overtime were' fixed by the expired award, are now placed under the same conditions as other workers, subject to the power reserved by the Court to make other provision after the expiration of 12 months.

In order to obviate unfair uso being made of the clause relating to a minimum weekly payment to casual slaughterhouse assistants, an additional sub-clause provides that when such a worker is discharged and subsequently re-engaged within four days, his employment shall be deemed to have been unbroken for the purpose of calculating the average weekly payment. Early Start of Work.

Under the old award an early start at 7.50 a.m. was permitted only when the exigencies of tho train service required, but tho present award extends this provision, where the company and tho majority of the slaughtermen agree, to bus, service-car and similar services. Claims by the union for certain amendments in regard to overtime rates and rates for pullers were refused. Tho award does not exclude watchmen, but fixes their pay at £4 18s a week for perand 2s Id an hour for casuals.

In a memorandum to the award, which expires on July 31, 1929, Mr. Justice Frazer states the members of the Court were not all of one mind in regard to all matters in dispute. However, they had decided to adopt the award as a whole without recording, individual expressions of dissent. '