HOTEL "WORKERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7077, 15 March 1910, Page 7

HOTEL "WORKERS

PROBABLE AGREEMENT WITH EMPLOYEES. DISPUTE BEFOEE CONCILIATION COMMISSIONER. Representatives of the workers in. hotel 6 and their employers met before the Conciliation Oommissioncr (Mr P. Hally) yesterday to discuss conditions for a new award in that industry. The employers were represented by Messrs John BeveridKO (Grand Hotel). Francis McParland (Hotel Cecil), and Joseph Dwyer (Club. Hotel). The representatives of the employees were Messrs E. J. Carey (secretary of the ■Wellington Cooks and Waiters' Union), Thomas Long (representing gu>. Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union of Auckland), T. Ilelyer, and E. Mark. A long discussion took place as to tno method of proceeding, Mr BevendEO declaring that the employers could not think of an advance in wages, ox a reduction in hours. The workers' representatives Turned that as restaurants were obliged by law not to work their girls longer than 52 hours weekly, it was unreasonable that hotel prorjrierors should have the right to wo-k the female employees 65 hours a week. There were daily complainte about the women's long hours in hotels. Mr Bcveridge asked if the employees were prepared to accept a reduction in wa<*es if their hou.ru were Tcduced. He had calculated that the demands, if granted, would cost him more than. .£I3OO Mr Carey replied that the workers would not agree to reduced wages. When the conference, after these preliminaries, settled down to discussion of the clauses seriatim it was agTeed to renew the conditions at present prevailing in regard to holidays. When tho minimum demands of the mployecs in regard to hours, wages, and general conditions were ascertained, an adjournrneut was granted until Wednesday, in order to give the employers, an opportunitv of submitting a bedrock offer acceptable to the union. It is fully expected that a. satisfactory agreement will be arrived at f«r submission to the Commissioner on the conference resuming.