CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15823, 23 July 1913, Page 2

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

BUTCHERS' DISPUTE. AGREEMENT ARRIVED AT. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr J. R. Triggs) sat all day yesterday hearing the dispute between the Dunodin anil Suburban Butchers' Union of Workers and their employers. The worker:! had cited their employers some time ago, and the latter had also filed a cross-citation. A crass-citation was miide' necessary by reason of the fact that the employers' demands were likely to bo less favourable to the workers than tho old award of 1901, and the court has held that conditions cannot lie roduced merely on an application by the workers' union. The men were represented by Messrs John Grainger, Goorgo C. M'Ray, and Robert Mayall, and Messrs T. Smith, George Blackwood, and Jas, Sinton appeared on behalf of the employers.

At first it appeared somewhat improbable that a settlement would be arrived at, but by dint of the guidance and advice of the commissioner and of u good deal of discussion an agreement was come to, and will be made a recommendation to the court. In its main features the agreement is substantially the same as the old award. The following are tho principal clauses of tho agreement, which concerns some 50 or 60 firms:— Hours of Labour.—Hours of labour to bo in acoordanco with the. requirements of "The Shops and Offices Act." Holidays.—(a) All workers shall receivo the following holidays:—New Yoar's Day and January 2, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Birthday of the Reigning Sovereign, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Annveraary Day, and tho day of tho Duncdin Co-operative Butchera' annual picnic. Tho employers to havo tho right .to fix tho day of the week, but not otherwise tho date of this holiday. ' (b) If any day shall, be goncrally observed as a holiday in lieu of the above-mentioned holidays, such day for tho purposes of this award shall be substituted for tho specified holiday, (c) Where two holidays oome together, or one falls on a Monday, the employers may require their workmen to attend for a period not exceeding two hours at the commencement of tho second of such holidays' or at tho commencement of tho Monday, if any holiday shall fall on a Monday. Those employees so working to roceive tho half-holiday on the Wednesday of that week.

Wages.—(a) Journeymen shall be paid not less than tJie wages specified in the following scale First shopman, .or man in charge, £3 10s per week;' second shop man, £3 per week; first small-goods man, £3 10s per week; all ether workers employed in connection with the business, including shopmen, small-goods men, men in charge of ordor carls, men in charge of hawking carts, £2 lis per week. (bJ/Meat allowance: Each journeyman shall receive 5s worth of meat per week, or in lieu thereof 5s in cash per week at the option of the employer.

Boys, "Youths, and Improvers.—(a) Employers may employ boys and youths at not Ices than the followin-g rates of wages: Under the age of 16 years, 15s per week : from 16 to 17 years, 17s 6d per week; from 17 to 18 years, 22s 6d per week; from 18 to 21, 30s per week; improvers, 21 to 22, 40s per week, (b) The . proportion of boys, youths, and improvers to be one to every three incn or traction thereof.

(reneral.—An employer who does substantially the work of a shopman in .his own shop will be classed as firs,- shopman.

Weekly Employment.— I The wages herein prescribed are weekly wages, and are not subject to any deduction save.for time lost through the illness or default of the worker. Casual Labour.—The minimum wage for casual hands (adults) shall be at the rate of 10s per day for all ordinary days, and 12s for Saturdays. (b) "Casual labour" shall be deemed to mean all employment of less duration than one week, and terminated by the employer. Exceptions.—Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to relate to' the employment of clerks or other persons exclusively engaged in the office work of any employer, nor to persons/employed at cash registers only. The award is to apply to all employers carrying on businoss within a radius of 25 miles from the chief post offioe, Dunedin. The term is for three years. The usual preference and undcr-rate workers' clauses are also included.