UNDER-RATE TAILORESSES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5803, 22 January 1906, Page 6

UNDER-RATE TAILORESSES.

A CAUSK OF FRICTION. TIME AND PIKCK-AVORK. Some <iiflifui‘y has arir-en in din regarding the interpretation tile new award, whitli has now conn* into operation. 'IhU award, wliicJj emhr.K es tlie whole trad** vyiih the excejilion of Aueklainl, provides lor liiiii? payment instead cT puscwork, tlie reason for tho change being the great diiaculty in On* past in tiie. drafting of a satisfactory bag. The rc.-adi, is, of cunise, that a number of employee** who di<l not earn much under the old system have to rank as under-rate workers under tienew. Twenty-dx of the tailortvses working at a Dunedin factory were ir. formed a few days ago that they would be suspended until they obtained permit.* to work at uiider-ralo wages. They, of course, claim to bo competent to earn the full wages, but tho management holds a different opinion, and infiists that the permits should be applied for. The award provides that the union’s consent must Ik? obtained before employees can work at under* rates, and failing such consent being obtained, the chairman of tho Conciliation Board shall adjudicate on tho applications, both union and employer being entitled to call evidence. At one sitting the chairman of the Boaro in Dunedin granted four and refused five applications, intimating that in future he would take them in batches. Tho clothing manufacturers, on thoir part, bio applied to the Arbitration Court for an interpretation of the award. Tlio Wellington union will hold a meeting at an early date to decide whether it will endeavour to arrange with the employers or throw the responsibility of deciding on the applications on tho chairman of the Boaid.