DAIRY FACTORIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22509, 28 August 1936, Page 12

DAIRY FACTORIES

hours fixed for workers PROTEST MADE BY UNION [by telegraph—own correspondent] PALMERSTON NORTH, Thursday That the recent decision of the Court of Arbitration determining the hours of work for employees in butter and cheese factories is not in accordance with the intention of the Act is the contention made by Mr. C. Gough, organising secretary of the Dairy factories' Employees' Union, in a statement on behalf of the union. "No person," states Mr. Gough, "knowing tho industry relating to the manufacture of butter, would say that this part of the industry could nob bo efficiently carried out in a 40-liour week, vet these workers are now compelled to work 48 hours for seven months each season, This union is of tho that section 21 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1936, was framed to provide for a maximum intermediate between 40 hours and 48 hours, and not for a maximum intermediate between 40 hours and 60 hours, as the Court has fixed in relation to cheese workers, who now work 52 hours for nine months each season. The shorter hours of 44 and 38 provided for in tho winter months are a farce, as no workers aro then employed in cheese factories. "In tho case of workers in two-man cheese factories who have still to work seven days each week, the men will now be compelled to work GOJ hours each week, which actually exceeds tho hours of work provided for in all previous awards, which were fixed at 60 hours. The union protests and anxiously awaits the Court's decision under section 20 in relation to tho now awards."