AWARD CLAIMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22539, 2 October 1936, Page 14

AWARD CLAIMS

LOCAL BODY WORKERS NO SETTLEMENT REACHED HOURS AND WAGES QUESTIONS MATTERS FOR THE COURT While settlement was readied on some minor issues, claims concerning wages, hours, overtime and holidays, under a new award for the Auckland Suburban Local Bodies' Labourers and Belated Trades Union, were referred to the Arbitration Court, after being further considered in Conciliation Council yesterday. The commissioner, Mr. B. E. Price, presided, the employers were represented bv Messrs. W. E. Anderson, 1). Holderness, B. H. Hartley and A. A. Coates, and the union assessors were Messrs. B. Clews, F. MacLeod, B. McGeehan and A. F. Newbold.

Basing their claims on a tentativo agreement, yet to be ratified, between the City Council and the union, tho employees proposed that unless otherwise specified tho working time should not exceed 40 hours a week, not exceeding eight hours on five days, and commencing not earlier than 7.30 a.m. and ceasing not later than 4.30 p.m. Men engaged on necessary services might work without overtime, such hours up to 40 necessary to maintain efficient services. The Wages Claim Minimum wage rates were submitted, ranging from 2s 3d to 2s an hour for general workers, with £4 a week for refuse lifters, tipincn, weighbridge and male convenience attendants, and £3 a week for femalo bath and convenience attendants. The schedule provided for general overtime at tho rate of time and a-half for the first tlireo hours and double time thereafter. Application was also made for an annual holiday of one week on full pay, from Christmas Eve to January 3. After a lengthy retirement to consider the claims the employers' representatives announced that they were not prepared to agree to any of them. They held that tho clauses did not apply at all to local bodies, apart from tho City Council. It was suggested tho original proposals should be. reintroduced and considered from the point at which they were previously closed.

The employees refused to agree to work on Saturday, except in tho case of maintaining essential public services, claiming that all other work on that day should be regarded as overtime. Nor would tho assessors accept a condition for Saturday work to make up time lost through bad weather. They said, taken over a period of years, little tune was lost in this way, and it was not logic to expect time in excess of four hours to be made up on Saturday morning. "Saturday Work Necessary"

Saturday work would bo necessary, Mr. Anderson intimated, explaining that the 40-hour week legislation did not prevent work on that day. Ho added that it was his opinion the union had no case for working a 40-hour week without work on Saturday, but the commissioner, asked for a ruling, considered Saturday work should be eliminated, in view of the provision for essential services. "If we have seen fit to adhere to the spirit of tho legislation why shouldn't the employers >" asked Air. Newbold. "We are prepared to give something, but the other side appears to be loth to give anything in reU j\lr. Clews: I thought this was conciliation. I can see it is nothing. he whole thing should be sent to the °The major claims wore then deferred for presentation to the Court.

NEW CONDITIONS FRUIT PRESERVING TRADE LONGER HOURS IN SUMMER A five-day 40-hour week in tho slack season, and a six-day 44-hour week in the busy months of the year, have been fixed by the Arbitration Court in making a new award for workers employed in the fruit preserving and vegetable canning industries in Auckland. The award, which will como into operation throughout the northern industrial district on October 12, and remain in force for two years, does not apply to workers engaged in preserving and/or packing meat and/or fish products, or to workers employed under tho wholesale storemen and packers' award. The hours of working during the summer months (November 1 to April 30) shall bo 44 weekly, to be worked between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on five days, and 8 a.m. and noon on Saturdays; and during the winter months (May 1 to October 31) the hours shall be 40 weekly, to be worked from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays inclusive. In the busy season night shifts may be worked for the pulping of tomatoes, and workers employed on such shifts shall bo paid 2s a shift extra.

Overtime will be at tho rate of time and a-half for the first three hours in any day, and double time thereafter, or Is 6d an hour, whichever is the greater. For tho purpose of computing the overtime rate of pay during tho 44-hour week period the additional payment of 10 per cent to youths and female workers shall be deemed to form part of the ordinary wage. Wages for adults arc: —Working foremen, £4 15s and £5 •'is during the 40-hour and 44-hour weeks respectively; general hands over 21. £1 and CI Bs. Youths: First six months. ISs fid; second, £1 2s fid; third, £1 7s fid; fourth, £1 15s; third vear, £2 2s fld; fourth, £2 12s fid; fifth, £3 2s fid; and thereafter the rate for adult ceneral hands. Female workers: First six months, 15s; second, 19s; third. £1 3s; fourth. £1 7s; fifth, £1 lis; sixth. CI 15s; fourth year, £2; thereafter, £2 ss. In the case of youths and femalo workers there will he an additional payment of 10 per cent during the 44hour week period. Casual adult male workers shall be paid 2s 3d an hour.

PRINTERS' DISPUTE HEARING IN CONCILIATION [BY TELECKAPIl —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINOTON, Thursday Tho New Zealand printers' dispute was continued to-day in committee by the Conciliation Council. No result of the deliberations hwia yet been announced.