PAINTERS' DISPUTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13941, 28 June 1907, Page 3

PAINTERS' DISPUTE.

ACTION BY THE EMPLOYEES. A PREFERENCE FILED. A dispute having arisen between the Otago Painters' Industrial Union of Employers' and the Duncdin Painters' Industrial Union of Workers' and other employers in Dunedm and suburbs, and efforts to arrive at an amicable settlement having failed, tho Union of Employers has referred the case to tbe Arbitration Court for settlement. Twenty-three employers, in addition to tlio Union of Workers, have been cited by the Union of Employers. The followng are the proposals of the Employers' Union:— 1. Hours of Labour.—The hours of work shall lie from S a.m. to 5 p.m. on five days of the week and fromß a.m. to noon on Saturdays, one hour to be allowed each day for dinner (Saturdays excepted), from tho Ist day of August to the 31st day of May (both inclusive), and from the first day of May to the Slat day of July (both inclusive), from 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., on five days of the week, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, half an hour to bo allowed for dinner each day (Saturdays excepted).

2. Minimum Wages.—The minimum -w?ge for fully competent journeymen painters shall be la 3d *cr hour. 3. (a) Under-T&to Men.—Any worker who consider*? himself incapable of earning the minimum' wage may 1* paid such lower wage as may from time to time be fixed, on tlio application of.the employee, after 24 hours' notice -to the union, by the chairman of the Conciliation Board or such other person as the court may from time to time appoint tor that purpose, and such chairman or person iti so fixing such wage shall have regord to the worker's capability, his past earnings, a.iid such other circutnatancos an such chairman or person may think fit. to consider after hearing such evidence and argument as the union and nfich employee shall offer; and, upon granting such a permit, the chairman or other person shall forward notice thereof to the inspector of factories. (b) Whenever occa?ion arises for so fixing an employee's wage, it shall be fixed for such period, not exceeding six months, as such chairman or other person shall determine, and after tho -expiration of the said period until M days' notice shall have been given to him hv the secretary of the union requiring him to have his wages again fixed in manner prescribed by this clause. Provided thp.t in the case of any person whose wage is so fixed bv reason of old ape or permanent, disability, it may be fixed for such longer period as such chairman or other person fhall think fit. (c) It plkiH, notwithstanding the forogom«j, be competent for an employes to with the president or swielnry of the union upon such wage without having the same ao fixed, (d) It shall be the duty of Ihe union to give notice to the inspector of factories of every agreement made with an employee pursuant hereto, (e) It shall be the duty of an before employa man at such lower w&ge to examine the permit or agreement by which such wage is fixed.

1 Overtime—All lime worked beyond the time mentioned in clause 1 hereof shall be considered overtime, and shall bo paid for as follows:—Time and a-quartcr from the ordinary hour of ceasing work up to 8 p.m.; between 8 p.m. and midnight, time and ahalf; between midnight and the ordinary hour for commencing work, double time; and on Saturdays, from the ordinary time of closing till midnight, time and a-half. If a workman is required to commence work before 8 a.ml on any working day ha shall, if tho hour at which he is required to commence his work be earlier than G a.m.. be paid double time for all time worked tip to S a.m., and if the said hour of commencement is not earlier fliau G a.m. he shall be paid time and a-quartcr for work dono up to 8 a.m. Work done on Sundays, Christmas Day, and Good Friday, shall be paid for at the rate of double time, and on the other holidays at the rate of time and a-half. 5. Holidays.—Tho following shall be the recognised holidays to be observed:—lst and 2nd January, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, King's Birthday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and the day appointed lor tho painters' annual picnic, G. Pay Day.—All wages earned by any journeyman or apprentico in any one week slia'l be paid to him by his employer on Friday or Saturday in each week, at the option of the employer. If payment shall be made on Saturday, then such payment shall be made not later than 1 u.m. In the event of any journeyman being discharged ho shall be paid the wacres due to him in Tull immediately on his discharge. 7. Country and Suburban Work.—" Country work " means work performed by a journeyman or apprentice which, in the opinion of the employer, necessitates his lodging elsewhere than at his usual place of residence. 8. Any journeyman or apprentico employed on country work shall bo conveyed by his employer to and from such work free ot charge, or his travelling expenses joing to and returning from such work shall be paid by such employer, but once only during the continuance of tho work if t.ho work be continuous, and the journeyman or apnrentico is not in the meantime recalled by his employer. , 9. Any journeyman or apprentice employed on country work shall be paid, in addition to bis wages, whilo employed oil such work, and whilo going to and returning from the same, and to his overtime (if any) at the rate herein provided, a further sum of Is Gd for every dav whilst so employed; lmf the employer shall have the option of providing Ihe journeyman or apprentice with suitable board and lodging in lieu of such payment. 10. Notwithstanding anything in this award contained, any employer and his workman may agree, that in resneet of anv sv>ec;fi«d country work the hours of work shall be other than those hereinbefore prescribed without payment of overtime, but so that not less than the minimum wages per hour prescribed in this award for ordinary vmrk sln'l ho paid to such workman. 11. " Surburban work" means work performed by a journeyman or an apprentice at a distance of over two miles from the Chief Post Office, Dnnedin. but which does not come within (lie drfmiiion of country work. Any journeyman or apprentice employed upon suburban work shall be paid, in addition to ordinary Tate?, n further sum ot fid per day nor mile, ohnrgcable one way only, beyond limit of radius, or the emoloyer conVey the workman free of charge to and from such v'ork. Workmen to be at Chief Pet Office. Dnnedin, when conveyance i» provided, not later than 7.30 a.m. This shall also apply to apprentices. Provided that this clpuse shall not apuly to . any workman residing within two miles of the work. 12. Apprentices.—The proportion of apprentices to journeymen employed by any employer shall not exceed one apprentice to every three journeymen or fraction of three. For the purpose of determining the proportion of apprentices to journeymen, in taking any new apprentice tho calculation shall be based on two-thirds full' time employment of the journeymen employed during the previous six calendar months. The period of apprenticeship shall be five years, but thToe months' probation shall be allowed the first employer of any apprentice to determino his fitness, such three months to bo included in tho period of apprenticeship. 13. Any employer taking an apprentice to loam tho trade shall be deemed to undertake the duty which he agrees to porfcrm as a duty enforceable undor this award, and sha.ll pay such apprentice net less than the undermentioned rates of wages— namely, for tho first year Gs per week: for tho second year, 10s per week; for tho third year, 15s per wook; for tho fourth year, £1 per week; fcr the fifth year, £1 5s per week. 14 At the end of tlio period of apprenticeship tho employer shall give the apprentice a oertificato to show that ho has served iiis apprenticeship. Should the employer at any time before the termination of the apprenticeship wish, for any reason, to dispense with tho sorvices of tlio apprentice, lie shall give him a certificate for tho timo served, and. piocuro him another employer carrying on business within a reasonable distance of the original employer's placo of business, who will'continue to teach the apprentice, to pay him tho wages fa-escribed by this award according to tlie total length of time he has served, and generally to perform tho obligation of tho original employer: Provided that it shall not bo obligatory on an employer to

fmd tho apprentice another employer if ho shall so misconduct himsolf as to entitle tiho employer to disehargo him, but ho shall givo him 9, certificate covering tho timo actually served. 15. An employer taking an apprentice shall give notice thereof and of tho name ot tin apprentice to tlio inspector of factories within one week after tho expiration of the period of probation, and an employer transferrins an apprentice io another employer shall, similarly within one week thereof, givo notice 01 puch transfer to euch. inspector. 30. An employer shall not bo deemed to discharge his duty toward-? his apprentice if ho fails to keep him nfc work owing to slack. nc;s of work, but such slackness may form a. proper ground for transferring • hi'in to a master willing to undertake tho rospoisilrility of teaching him. 17. When an apprentico is discharged for cause, tho employer shall send notice of the discharge and tlio cause thereof to tlio inspector of factories. 18. Existing arrangements with, or relating to apprentices now serving r.ny employer, may continue provided that any employer wishing such arrangements to continue shall forward, tho names of his present apprentices to the inspector of factories within ono mouth after the filing oi this award, li). Should it 1» the desire of an apprentice having rorved five years to take acrvice in the employment cf any employer with a view of improving his general knowledge of the trade, it sha.ll be lawful for him to serve a further term of 12 months si. a minimum rato of £1 Ids per week. 20. Nothing in the foregoing clauses contained shall be. deemed to prevent any employer from employing his son or sons in his busifor tlio purposo of teaching him c.r them tho trade or any brandies of the trade of a painter, notwithstanding that such employer may, without such son or sons, liavo the full number of apprentices allowed by this award. No Discrimination.—2l. No employer shall, in the engagement or dismissal or bis hands discriminate against members of the union, nor in the conduct of his business do anythin® for the purpose of injuring the union whether directly or indirectly. 22. When members of the union and lion-members are employed together both shall work together in harmony, and shall receive equal pay for equal work, and there Bhall be no distinction between them.