WOOL STORES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22583, 23 November 1936, Page 11

WOOL STORES

WORK ON SATURDAYS DISPUTE SETTLED ACTION OF EMPLOYEES EFFECT ON COMING SALE Although the question of work in wool stores was being considered by a conciliation council meeting in Christchurch, all the workers in Auckland wool and grain stores did not report for work on Saturday morning. It was the second time that they had been absent from duty on a Saturday, similar action having been taken last week as a • move to bring about a five-day week of 10 hours. The men have been working under an award made in 19.'51, which stipulated a 44-hour week, but as the employers refused a 'lO-hour week in conciliation proceedings, which began on November 2 at Christchurch, a deadlock resulted, and the men therefore declared for a 40-hour week. The conciliation proceedings were resumed at Christchurch on Saturday, but as the men bad rereived no notice from the secretary of the Storemen and Packers' Federation, Mr. W. Miller, who was appearing for them, they decided to keep to their previous decision and not work ou Saturday. Overtime Worked A settlement of the dispute was reached in conciliation council late on Saturday afternoon, however, and tho majority of tho men reported for overtime work in the stores yesterday, starting at S a.m. and finishing at 5 p.m. It is expected that the men will report for work to-day, and although tho new agreement provides for a 41-hour week, which means a continuance of Saturday work, wool store managers do not anticipate that there will be any further trouble. After working overtime until 10 p.m. on Friday, the men held a meeting to consider the question of Saturday work. Some were in favour of returning in view of the published statement from Christchurch that the assessors had agreed there would be no trouble until the proceedings were over, but th« majority -considered that as there wp.s no word from tho secretary of tlw» union they should not turn to. Whoa the stores opened a few men put iu an appearance, but when the position was explained to them by union pickets waiting outside, they also declined to work.

' Effects on Sale The refusal of the men to work oil Saturday at a time when wool stores are particularly busy will have serious effects, in view of the wool sale next Saturday, when between 18,000 and 19,000 bales will be offered. Fresh clips have come to hand, and others are due to-day, and, as a result of the men working short time, a lot of wool will have to be offered at the sale without reclassing. "Our great difficulty at. the moment is nest Saturday's wool sale," said Mr. B. J. M'arquet. president of the Auckland Wool Brokers' Association, when commenting upon the dispute on Saturday. "Fresh clips have come to hand and others are due on Monday, so there is not much time to get them into the catalogues, as the brokers have little time at their disposal. Weather conditions held up some of the consignments at first, and now with the men working short time we are in a mess."

Mr. Marquet said that the buyers would arrive in Auckland 011 Wednesday morning at 8 o'clock, and there would not be time to release some of the clips. These would either have to be held over until the next sale or auctioned as they wore, without reclassing. A large quantity of bin wool had also to be dealt with, but there would not be time to complete it all before the sale. FrQbablv there would be some hundreds of bales affected in the bale wool and the same amount of wool from the bins. "Growers must not expect too much from the brokers at the sale," said Mr. Marquet. "I think they would he wise to offer what they have forwarded, whether it has been reclamed or not, as the market is high. This is an important factor that they should bear in mind."

FORTY-FOUR-HOUR "WEEK TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION"] CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday A settlement of the wool, grain and hides stores' employees dispute was reached in conciliation council late this afternoon. The 44-hour week was agreed upon, and the following wage scales were adopted.:—Casual labour, 2s 2d an hour; permanent hands, £4 14s a week; rabbit-skin and wool classers, 2d an hour extra; vouths under 17 years, £1 os; 17 to 18. £1 10s; 18 to 19, £2; 19 to 20, L2 10s; 20 to 21, £3. It was decided that the award should operate as from Monday until August 31, 1937.