EMPLOYERS' CASE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22675, 12 March 1937, Page 10

EMPLOYERS' CASE

OFFER TO THE MEN AN INCREASE IN PAY INTERESTS OF THE FARMER While declining to make any definiFe statement on the issues arising from the stoppage of work at the chemical manure works the employers said they had made an offer of improved tvages to all employees in an endeavour to effect a settlement at the Conciliation Council proceedings. "Although the men had invoked the Arbitration Court in initiating proceedings for a new award," read a statement issued last night, "they took up the attitude that unless a settlement could be made in conciliation they would take direct action. The employers naturally had to consider their farming customers equally with their employee* and in making the offer which they did of an increase all round, they felt that they had done the utmost they could for the workers under the circumstances."

The following is the offer made showing a comparison with the wages the men were receiving before the increase in hourly rates due to the 40-hour week. The amounts quoted are hourlyrates, the former rates being shown in parentheses:—Day labour: new rate, 2s ikl (Is lOJd); chamber men, 2s 4Jd (2s); shift workers, 2s 4d (Is men on "super bank," 2s 4d (Is lOJd); unloading sulphur, day rates, 2s 6d (2s IJd); night shift, 2s 7d (2s 2jd).