WORKERS' HOLIDAY PAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20977, 14 September 1931, Page 5

WORKERS' HOLIDAY PAY.

DAIRY FACTORY EMPLOYEES. ARBITRATION COURT DECISION. A ruling that the rate of wages payable during the holiday period granted to workers governed by the Taranaki dairy factory workers' award should be the rate payable at the time the holiday was given, and not the rate paid during the qualifying period, whether the latter rate was higher op lower, has been given by tho Arbitration Court in a reserved decision. The point came before the Court when an application for an. interpretation was brought forward by the inspector of awards at New Plymouth on August 30. The application was in respect of the Taranaki award, but Mr. Justice Frazer said the decision would have a general application. The Dairy Factory Workers' Award provides that every cheese worker who has completed- eight months' work for the same, employer within the season from August 1 taJuly 31, whether continuously or otherwise, is entitled to three weeks' holiday on full pay. Butter-makers are entitled to two weeks. Tba case respecting which the application was brought was that of three cheese .workers and one butter-maker who commenced their employment on August 1, 1930, and had completed their eight months' employment on March 31 this year. They did not receive their holidays until the "off season," aiifd in the meantime the general order reducing wages by 10 per cent, had become operative. The question was whether, having "earned" their holidays before the date of the general order, the holiday pay should have been computed at the rate ruling at the time they had completed their eight months' work, or at the reduced rate in operation when they were granted their leave.