DAIRY FACTORY WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21277, 2 September 1932, Page 13

DAIRY FACTORY WORK

NEW AWARD PROPOSALS 10 PER CENT WAGES REDUCTION An all-round 10 per cent reduction in wages is included in proposals which have been filed by employers for a new award with the Auckland Creameries, Cheese and Butter Factories Union, to replace the award which expired in 1931. Changes designed to enable employers to take on more boys are proposed. It is proposed to pay youths under 20 starting at manufacture 15s a week for the first year, 22s 6d for the second and 30s for the third. Thereafter award rates will apply. At present the wages for youths, which are paid on a different basis, range from £1 0s 3d for boys between 15 and 16, to £2 7s 3d for youths of 19.

The suggested hours of work for butter factories, for a week of seven days from August 1 to March 31, are 56, and 44 from April 1 to July 31. The present hours are 56 a week from August 15 to March 15, and 44 for other months, so that the effect of the suggested alteration will be to add a month to the period in which more hours are worked. For cheese factories it is proposed that there aro to be no fixed hours, but work will be according to the length time it takes to make the cheeses. The pfesent hours are 60 hours from August, 14 to May 14, 48 hours from May 15 to June 16, and 38 hours from June 17 to August 13.

The dispute will be considered by a conciliation council on September 21.