MILK ROUNDSMEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23150, 23 September 1938, Page 17

MILK ROUNDSMEN

NEW AWARD ISSUED WAGES RISE OF 4/- WEEKLY LONGER ANNUAL HOLIDAY An increase in wages of 4s a week, an 88-hour fortnight, 80 hours of which are to be worked on 10 days at the rate of £o a week, and two weeks' annual holiday instead of one, arc tho principal clauses of interest to milk roundsmen who are affected by the new award issued yesterday by tho Arbitration Court. Hours worked in excess of 80, up to eight in the fortnight, must be paid for at the rate of lis 9d an hour. The award is to take effect from next Monday and to continue in force until March 31, 1940. It provides that there shall be only one delivery of milk each day, and, subject to the Shops and Offices Act, starting time shall be not earlier than 2.30 a.m. Any time worked outside of, or in excess of the hours mentioned, or in excess of eight hours a day, shall be deemed to be overtime, and paid for at the rate of time and a-half for the first three hours and double time thereafter. Wholesalers Exempt Learners are to be paid a minimum wage of 8s a day for each day they require the assistance' of a teacher while learning the round. Workers engaged solely in delivering milk in wholesale quantities are exempt from the provisions of the award. Wholesale quantities shall mean one gallon and upward. Any person, irrespective of age, who delivers milk in retail quantities shall be deemed to be a milk roundsman. Xo person under the age of 16 shall be employed in the delivery of milk in retail quantities. Small Employers' Rights The award applies only to employers carrying on business within a radius of 20 miles of the chief post office in Auckland. In a memorandum, Mr. Justice O'Kegan said the principal clauses referred to the Court were those relating to wages of roundsmen, wages of relief roundsmen, wages of learners, annual holiday, payment for statutory holidays, limitation of work and the number of gallons each man should distribute. These the Court had settled. in other respects the award followed the recommendations of tho assessors in Conciliation Council, excepting that a slight alteration was made to preserve the rights of small employers. This, while maintaining the rate of pay, allowed more overtime to be worked. THE PRICE TO CONSUMERS COUNCIL CHAIRMAN'S COMMENT Reference to the new award for milk roundsmen was made last night by the chairman of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council, Mr. I. J. Goldstine. He said the award should not necessitate any increase in the price of milk.