BRICKLAYERS’ DEMANDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10950, 12 July 1921, Page 6

BRICKLAYERS’ DEMANDS

PARTIES AT VARIANCE. EMPLOYERS AND AUCKLAND AWARD. The Wellington bricklayers’'' dispute was discussed by a Conciliation- Council yesterday, consisting of Messrs A. Fletcher, H. Mainland, and K. S. Knight (.assessors for' the employers), and Messrs H. Hanton, G. and R. Newman. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr W.. Newton) presided, and Mr W. A. W. Grenfell acted as agent for the employers. The union, in its claims, demanded a 40-hour week, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m», with an hour for lunch, on five days of the week between August Ist and April 30th, and *frrom 8 a.m.' to 4.30 p.in., with! half an hour for lupch, for the rest cf the year. A minimum wage of 3s per hour was sought for journeymen. Tiine and a quarter pay was asked for bricklayers working on hot or dirty jobs. For apprentices, £1 a week was sought for the first six months, after which a rise of 5s a week every six months. • Mr Grenfell, in presenting the case for tlie employers, said that the "Wellington employers were willing to fall into line with the conditions ruling in other centres. The master builders “were prepared to accept the terms of the Auckland award for the Wellington award, forVt was in the general interest** that conditions in the building 'trade should be uniform. They were not prepared, * however*; to go beyond the Auckland award.' They would agree to a minimum wage of 2s lid, plus 3sd bonus, which represented a distinct advancp on the expiring awarrf. \ , Mr Hanton, in reoly, said he felt sure the parties could not arrive at a settlement at the present stage in the matter of the hourw and wages. Ho and bis' fdQow-assessors could not accept the employers’ counter-propo-sals. After some discussion, Mr Grenfell suggested that Mr Hanton should const'b unions in the other centres before proceeding further with the principal clauses of the demands—hours and waees. The suggestion wAs? accepted by Mr Hinton, and he remarked that it might be possible to meet again without reco-unse to the Arbitration Court, and with a prospect of coming to an understanding. The questions of wagrn and hours were, therefore, held over, and *- tjie council proceeded to. discuss the other clauses of the demands. A further sitting will be arranged. *