CLAIM FOR AWARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22464, 7 July 1936, Page 12

CLAIM FOR AWARD

MODE SPENDING POWEK

COMMISSIONER'S SUGGESTION THE 1931 STANDARD "WORKERS EXPECT INCREASE" The suggestion that they should take into consideration tho effect on their businesses of tho improved spending power of the public through higher wages when dealing with claims by employees for improved rates of pay was made to the employers' assessors at a sitting of a conciliation council yesterday by tho commissioner, Mr. M. J Peardon. The dispute was one in which the Auckland Tailoressos and other Female Clothing Trade Employees' Industrial Union of Workers cited the Auckland Master Tailors for higher wages and a 40-liour week. The union asked that work should be on fivo days of the week, and for an award to extend for a year. Proceedings lasted all day yesterday, and were adjourned until to-day to enahle the union assessors to confer with the employees on an offer by the employers for the reinstitution of the 1931 rates of pay and a 40-hour week.

Tho union's assessors were Mrs. S. Deason, Miss H. A. Gibbs, Miss M. E. .Charles and Miss A. E. Cossev, and the employers' assessors Messrs. H. Preston, F. 0. Gorman, M. H. Kushner and P. Groos.

The Union's Demands The demands were that coat makers should be paid £2 17s 6d a week, and that the weekly wage for other women employed on weekly wages should be £2 J2s 6d a week. The rates asked for pieceworkers were Is 2d an hour, based on a time statement for work, except that pieceworkers on women's garments should be paid Is 4Jd an hour. Apart from the holidays allowed in the Factories Act, the union also asked for Show Day and the day of the annual picnic. The commissioner said the dispute provided an opportunity to anticipate legislation. Tho Government had stated it was going to restore the 1931 rates of wages. If both sides to the dispute realised the inevitableness of the legislation, and workers wero satisfied that the 1931 rates wore better than ruled now, and that they were satisfactory,, it seemed to him that a basis of settlement was present.

Employers' Offer If the parties agreed on terms below the 1931 rates, continued Mr. Reardon, it was possible, or rather probable, that in three or four months' time they would be compelled to abandon the agreement in favour of rates imposed by tho legislation. If the employers were satisfied with the 1931 rates, it would perhaps, bo much better to bow to the inevitable and accept the Government's announcement that it proposed to make rates retrospective to July 1. It was perhaps fair to point out to employers that these seemed to be days of rising prices, and that spending power would be more. Mr," Preston said tho employers were prepared to offer the 1931 rates and also a 40-hour week. The employers felt that such rates would be satisfactory, as they wore based on conditions in a boom period. Miss Cossey: You have got to takp rates for pieceworkers into consideration. They don't work 40 hours now. . Mr. Kushner: It has been stated by the Government that when the 1931 rates are restored, there will be a prorata increase in piece rates. Mis? Cossey said that in Christchurch workers under the 1931 rates got £2 15s and £2 Bs, and the Christchurch workers would not get less than that in their new award. The Auckland employers were merely offering what the union was bound to get in any case. Effect of High Costs

Mr. Preston: Miss Cossey knows as well as I do that our work is 50 per centlabour. If we force up' labour costs unduly, there will be no work for anybody. Replying to Miss Cossey, Mr. Preston said there was more profit when suits were £6 t>s, than on £l2 12s suits to-day. Mr. Preston said that in 1931, when the minimum wage was £2 7s 6d a week, piece-workers earned £3 and £4 a week, some getting up to £6 a week. He could produce his books to substantiate his statements. Replying to a statement that employers felt their business would bo adversely affected if they increased prices, the commissioner asked whether they did not think that trade was going to be better and with higher wages there would be more spending. Mr. Gorman: I know my girls would be satisfied with the 1931 rates. Miss Cossey said that other centres were making the same demands as Auckland, and would be satisfied with no less Mi. Gorman: I think we'll walk out and have a Dominion award then. Mr. Preston: We offer not only the 1931 weekly rates, but the piece-work log as well. Miss Cossey: Employers are paying the 1931 rate now.

Mr. Preston: I am. Miss Cossey: Yes, you, and some others. , , The Commissioner (to the employers assessors): You ought to keep in mind that if you offer the union what is likely to be below the basic rate, you will have to revise the whole agreement later. Mr. Kushner: In that case it is just as well to leave the dispute in abeyance.

" Workers Not Going to Hoard " The commissioner said the Government had brought in new rates of wages on July 1. It was estimated that £400,000 by these new rates would be divided anxong 10,000 employees, an average of £4O each. Other industries ■would gain increases. That was an aspect for commercial people to consider. Workers were not going to hoard Spending would be going on all round. Mr. Preston: That is all very well, but if wages are forced up unduly, we will be forced more to the use of machinery. Mr. Gorman: The employers offer the 1931 rates of weekly wages and are prepared to bring piece rates into conformity. The Government says the 1931 rates are right. Miss Cassey: We want more than those. The Commissioner: Workers in New Zealand expect and are entitled to expect more than the 1931 rates of wages. Mr. Preston: In 1931 an ordinary male coat hand could get up to £7 a week. Some men earned £l3 to £l4 a week. Do they expect more than that ? The commissioner pointed out that on the weekly wage a difference between the parties of os only existed. At his suggestion, the council adjourned in order that the parties could reconsider the position. Subsequently the council resumed, the employers reiterating their offer and extending tho hourly basis for pieceworkers to Is Id. The proceedings were adjourned until to-day.