STOREMEN’S DISPUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11665, 1 November 1923, Page 6

STOREMEN’S DISPUTE

WHOLESALE MERCHANTS TEN PER CENT. INCREASED WAGES WANTED. BIG QUESTION FOR COURT. The Wellington Merchants, Stoiemen and Packers’ Union dispute was heard before the Conci’ia tiou Council yesterday morning, Mr \V. Newton (Conciliation Commiesionerj presiding. Messrs A. L. Montcith, ALP., H. Dyson (secretary), and J. Tucker were tho assessors for the employees, arc! Messrs W. A. \1 . Grenfell, W. J. Thompson, and E. E. Stonebanks represented the employers. The main point in the union’s claim was for an increase of some 10 per cent, in wages. The details of tlio wages claim aro as under: Storemen and packers over the age of 21 years employed at work usually perforated hy storemen and puckers, such as receiving, delivery of, stewing, collecting, handling, and dispatching goods, shall be paid not less than the following wages: Head storeman or packer in charge of one or mere, £4 17s 6d per wet it. Storeman or packer when only one storeman or packer is employed, £4 12s 6d. Ordinary storeman or packer, £4 is 6d pci' week. Junior storemen or packers :—L nder 17 years of age, 28s (id; from 17 to 18 rears, 355; from 18 to 19 years, 455; from 19 to 20 years, 57s Gd ; fre-m 20 to 21 years, 70s; and thereafter tho minimum wage. Casual workers :—Workers employed for less than one week shall be deemed to he casuals, and shall he paid not less than 2s 6d per hour. When casual labour is employed a minimum of four hours shall be paid for. Air Gromfeill urged that tbe two recent pronouncements from tbe court practically said that it was a case or continuing the present rates; and the opinion of tho meeting of employers that had been held was that they could not eee their way to grant any increase.

Mr Monteith replied that tho court also said that in now awards the minimum standard wages were to be considered. What tho court said with regard to continuing the present rates had to do with bonuses, not with determining wages at tbe end of an award.

Air Grenfell agreed that that would justify tho union in going to the court and asking for a review now, seeing that the legislation concerned had practically expired. Air" Alontoith said that tho position waa tliT> the present wage was not a living wage. Air Dyson said that the union appreciated the relations existing between the majority of tho employers and the men. In the majority of cases the merchants were paying more than the minimum wage; but others paid the (bare minimum. That, ho contended, was not fair competition. If the employers would concede a few shillings on tlio present wages, the union would accept the other cond'tions in tho present award.

Air Monteith urged that the storemen and packers should got the same as the grocers’ assistants. Mr Grenfell replied that the trouble was that if an advance was given in Wellington it would be claimed in the other centres; and lie did not think they would be justified in granting an I increase here that would affect wages in other centres, and in other callings, because it would affect the gradings of the various callings that the court had •established. The question of a living wage was too 'big a question for one section of the employees to settle. They must, therofofe, leave it to the court. Tile employers would accept with as good a grace as possible any decision that the court might give; but the court would hare to consider the matter in relation to all other callings.

Air Monteith said that that was to say that the biggest business mon in the city did not feel that they could shoulder the small responsibility of saying what was a living wage for employees. Air Grenfell: As Air Dyson said, the great majority of tho men are receiving in advance o’ the wage-rate. Hie minimum is thus being treated as a true maximum.

Air Alonteith: But in some cases, not because of the class of man at all, they are only receiving tho bare minimum. Some of tho men, he stated, had gone to other employers and had got 50 or 60 per cent, increase. Air Grenfell remarked that, in view of the decision or tho Arbitration Court recently, the employers felt they could not do anything in the way of agreeing to an increase. Air Monteith said that ho was not surprised at Aliat. Ho had never known the court more favourable to tho employers. Wore tho biggest business men in the city—men responsible almost daily for taking very big decisions—not prepared to accept ihe responsibility of fixing tho wages of 600 men and seeing that there is fair competition amongst themselves? Mr Dyson: I don’t think that really more than 25 men would bo affected. Air Grenfell said thait tho consensus of opinion at tho employers’ meeting was that the court should bo loft to decide.

Agreement was readied with regard to most of the other points in the award, but tho court wild be asked to decide the wages question.