MILKMEN’S PAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8654, 12 February 1914, Page 6

MILKMEN’S PAY

UNION'S CLAIMS AND COUNTER PROPOSALS BY EMPLOTERS. Last evening the Wellington Milk Vendors’ Association met to consider the il'emands formulated by the recentlyformed union of employees. Tho demands are as follow : Hours of Labour. 1. The hours of labour shall not exceed 50 hours per week of seven days; to be worked a« follows: —On Mondays. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, eight hours per day; on Wednesdays and Sundays, five hours shall bo worked. Hour of Commencing Work.

2. The hour of commencing work and delivery of milk shall not he earlier than 4 a.m. MINIMUM WAGES.

3. Workers employed as floormen, canwashers, stablemen, milk carters, and all others workers employed in the delivery and distribution of milk shall be paid not less than £3 per week. Term of Engagement.

•1. (a) The engagement shall be deemed to be weekly employment, and no deduction shall tie made from the weekly wages, except for time lost through the worker’s sickness or default. (b) One week’s notice in writing of termination of the engagement shall be given on either side. Overtime. 3. Overtime shall be paid for all work done outside the ordinary workings, at the following rates: —Time and a-half for the first two hours and double time thereafter. Holidays. 6. (a) Tho following days shall bo worked as Sundays :—Christmas Hay, Boxing Day, New .Year’s Hay, Easter Monday, Good Friday, King’s Birthday, Anniversary Hay, and Labour Hay. If any of the above days fall on Sundays, then the following day shall bo observed as the holiday. (b) All employees shall be allowed fourteen consecutive holidays on full pay each year, or its equivalent. No emnloyee shall claim his holiday unless ho has been in the employer’s sendee for one year; but if any employee is discharged before completing the year s service he shall receive equal time off on full pay for the time worked, except such employee is discharged for misconduct. Payment of Wages. 7. All wages shall be paid weekly. Preference.

8. (a) An employer, when engaging an» worker, shall ascertain if such worker is a member of the Workers’ Union, and if not his engagement shall be subject to his becoming and remaining a member within fourteen days’ oj being engaged. It shall be the duty of every employer to notify the secretary of the Workers’ Union within three days ot employing such worker. (b) All workers at present working for any employer and who are not members of the Workers’ Union shall become and remain members within fourteen days after the time of this award coming into operation; the secretary of the Workers’ Union to notify employers when any worker has not joined the union or has become unfinancial. (o) If any employee shall engage to work for any employer who carries on business as a dairyman, and such employer is not a member of the Milk Vendors’ Association, such worker shall not continue to work for such employer unless, within fourteen days after, the engagement, such employer shall join the said Milk Vendors’ Association. It shall be the duty of the worker to notify the secretary of the Milk. Vendors’ Association of hie engagement within three days after making the same. (d) For the purposes of the last preceding clause, an "employee” shall mean anv member of tho Workers’_ Industrial Union and any worker who is required .in terms of sub-clause (b) hereof to become a member of the union. Scope of Award. 9. The operation of this award is limited to an area lying within 25 miles from the chief post office in the city of Wellington. Term of Award. 10. This award shall come into force on the Ist day of March, 1914, and shall remain in force until the Ist day or March 1915. THE COUNTER PROPOSALS. In their counter proposals, tho employers accept clause 1, with tho addition of the words "except stablemen and iloormen, whose hours shall be flfty-two per week.” Clause 2is amended to "shall not be later than 4 a.tn,” Clause 3 is altered to: “Workers employed as floormeu, stablemen and milk carters shall be paid not less than 4J2 10s per week; can washers and general hands £2 55.” Clause 4 is unaltered but clause 5 is altered to: ‘‘Time and a quarter for the first two hours and double time thereafter, except that in case of train delays or accident no overtime be paid for.'*

Clause 6 (b) is amended as follows: "All employees shall be allowed one week’s holiday on full .pay each year after tho completion of twelve months’ service."

Clause 7 is altered to read: —"All wages shall be paid weekly, tho week to end on Friday and payment to be made on the following Alonday.’’ Clauses 8 (a) and (b). 9 and 10 are unaltered, but 8 (c) and (d) are struck out.