FRUIT CANNING WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23275, 18 February 1939, Page 20

FRUIT CANNING WORK

HOURS AND WAGES FIXED AGREEMENT IN CONCILIATION [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'! HASTINGS, Friday Agreement was reached in Conciliation Council yesterday in a dispute created for the purpose of making at» award for those employed preparing, pulping and canning fruit and vegetables, and with the manufacture of allied products, including cider and unfermented fruit juice. Wage rates agreed to were:- — Youths, 16 to 16$, £1; 16>\ to 17, £1 ss; 17 to 174, £1 10s; 17* to 18. £1 15s; 18 to 18i, £2; 18* to 19, £2 ss; 19 to 191, £2 10s; 19* to 20. £2 15s; 20 to 21, £3. Adults aro to receive £4 10s for a 40-hour week, with a 10 per cent increase during the 44-hour week period. Women's rates begin at 17-s 6d a week, rising at six-monthly periods by 4s increases. Thereafter the rate is £2 7s 6d for a 40-hour week. The starting rate for adult women without previous canning factory experience is £1 16s, rising by half-yearly increases of 4s to the full rate. . The award comes into operation on the first pay-day after March 1, and expires on April 11, 1939. The workers asked for a sjiort-terin award so that the expiry date would coincide with other awards in the industry.