JOURNALISTS' DISPUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15937, 3 December 1913, Page 5

JOURNALISTS' DISPUTE

ARBITRATION COURT'S AWARD

(Peii United Pbess Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, December 2. The Arbitration Court's awards in the dispute between the Christchurch Journalists' Union and the Timaju Herald Company, the Timaru Post Company, the Ashburton Mail and Guardian Company, and Mt R. R. Martin, proprietor of the Temuka Leader and Geraldine Guardian, comes into force on December 15, and is to remain in force till June 21, 1916.

A memorandum states that the general provisions are the same in substance as tliise contained in the award made recently in Christchurch. The parties were unable to agree on the subject of wages, and these were fixed by the court. A journalist is defined as one, otheT than the editor,, employed on the literary staff of a newspaper who takes a regular and adequate share of work of the newspaper, but nothing in the award is to operate to bring within its scope persons, not members of the literary staff, employed in the reading and correction of proofs. Work is to be spread over a period of*not more than 12 consecutive hours (including meal houre) in any one period of 24 hours, except in special circumstances, when journalists may be brought back to work after an interval of 10 hours. Time worked in excess is to be paid for within the, next 14 days, either in time off or at the rate of one and a-half hours for eveTy hour worked, or in cash at 2s 6d per hour. The minimum wages per week shall be: Senior journalists, £5; general journalists, £4; junior journalists, £3 3s; cadetsfirst year 255, second year 355, third year 45a. On a staff of one a journalist employed is to be ranked as a general; two, one general and one junior; three, one senior, one general, and one junior; four, one senior; two generals, and one junior; five, two seniors, two generals, and one junior; six, two seniors, three generals, and one junior. Up to three journalists ono cadet may be employed; over three and less than six, two cadets; ovot six, three cadets. Journalists are to be allowed clear day off in every seven and one evening < ff (except at parliamentary election time) from 6 p.m. If through any unavoidable cause this cannot be done in any week the employer- is to allow time thus lost to be taken as soon as possible within the next four weeks.'' Journalists are to .be entitled to two weeks' holidav each year on full pay The preference clause is the same as in the Christchurch award.