GENEROUS OFFER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23995, 19 June 1941, Page 12

GENEROUS OFFER

SPORTS WORKERS

CLAIMS FOR AN AWARD

EMPLOYERS COMMENDED

Claims by tin* Agricultural and Pastoral Associations, Racecourse and Sports Bodies Employees' Lnion for a lieu- award were argued before the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. C. L. Hunter, nil day yesterday In the end the proceedings were unsuecesstul, although the commissioner expressed the opinion that Ihe employers had made generous concessions which in the interests of the workers could he accepted by their representatives. Ihe union was represented by Messrs. \\ . T. Quealy, .). H. Hyndman and W. Bieklev, and the employers bv Messrs. A. A. Baker, A. K. Forrest, W. F. O'Donnell and W. S. Spencc, with Mr. J. C. Malfrov as advocate The union asked for improved wages, hours and conditions and for a term of one year to be fixed for the award. The employers based their counter proposals on the old award, with certain variations in hours, and asked that the term of the award lie three years. They stressed the dillieulties that amateur sports bodies were now facing as a result of war conditions. Comment by Commissioner A provisional agreement was reached on almost all matters, but negotiations finally broke down over the clause l fixing the wages of female cloak room attendants. "I think the employers have gone a very long wav," said Mr, Hunter, "and have made greater concessions than any set of employers 1 have had to do with since I have been a commissioner, They have given wa\ in my opinion ouite well and have done the job very well." He told Mr. Quealy that in the interests of his own workers he could accept this. "You have got better for your workers than I thought you would." Union and Anomalies Mr. Quealy said they had come there to get anomalies corrected, but the most glaring anomaly, the payment of female cloak room employees, had not been corrected. The commissioner pointed out that when this matter went to the Arbitration Court with nothing settled the Court would simply refer it back to the council and much time would be lost before the Court could lie approached again. He would hold up the matter lor a fortnight, and suggested that in the meantime Mr. Quealy submit the employers' offers to his union for its decision. He thought the workers would accept. Mr. Quealy said they could not. retreat from the stand they had taken.