WORKERS' CLAIMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23489, 28 October 1939, Page 13

WORKERS' CLAIMS

HIGHER WAGES SOUGHT . ROPE AND TWINE MAKERS Unsettled clauses in the schedule of a new award for the Auckland Rope and Twine Workers' Union were argued before the Arbitration Court yesterday. Mr. T. Stanley appeared for the union, and Mr. W. E. Anderson represented the employers, DOll- - Rope and Twine Company, Limited. The matters referred to the Court from the Conciliation Council were classification, wages for all hands, holidays and the "smoke-oh" clause.' The employers submitted as counter proposals the terms and conditions of the previous award of August, 1938. The union asked for the addition of small goods ropemakers as a fifth class of workers. It asked for an addition of 3d an hour, from 2s 3d to 2s Gd, for all adult workers, for an increase of 10s a veek for all classes of hovs and youths, making their starting wages 30s instead of 20s, and for an increase of 10s a week for all female workers, raising their base rate from 15s to 255. It claimed an extension of statutory holidays to include tlio day following New Year's Day and Anniversary Day, and of annual holidays from one week to two. It also asked that the 10-minute "smoke-oh"' now granted to workers employed for four and three-quarter hours without a break for a meal should be allowed to all workers.

In support of these claims Mr. StanIcy said the workers were paid on an hourly basis and had no security, that the cost of living was increasing and that the output of the industry had been increased by upwards of 50 per cent.

Mr. Anderson said the increased output was accounted for by increased staff and by the largo amount of overtime worked during the past two months. There had been no change in the conditions since the last award to justify the claims made. The Court reserved, its decision.