CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19196, 12 June 1924, Page 3

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

FELT HATTERS' DISPUTE. COMPLETE SETTLEMENT EFFECTED. A sitting of (ho Conciliation Council was held yesterday to deal with the industrial dispute in the felt hatters' trade. Mr \\ . 1!.- Hugger (Conciliation Commissioner) presided. The assessors foMlie employers were Messrs T. Glendining, W. Allan, and A. S, Cooksoo, and those for the workers were Messrs C. Morris. .1. Robinson, and W. Turner. Mr J. Haymos appeared as agent for the union. The union asked that the hours of work should be 44 per week, to be worked between 8 a.tit. and 5 p.m. on live days, and between 8 a.m. and noon on Saturdays. The wages proposed were £o per week for the following classes of work: —Blocking (steam or water), open or box framing, finishing (hand or machine) shaping in its entirely, flanging, cutting, velouring (before or after trimming) felt hats of all descriptions. including ladies’ felts. The union asked that the above classes of work be performed only by journeymen felt hatters or Iron a tide apprentices, a journeyman to be one who had served live years’ apprenticeship to the trade. Overtime was asked for at the rate of time and a-hnlf for the first four hours on any one day and double time afterwards, work on Sundays and prescribed holidays to be paid for at double rates. The following holidays were asked for; —Christmas Day till January 2 (inclusive), Good Friday. Easter Saturday, Easier Monday. King’s Birthday, Labour Day, and such days as each factory required to shut down for annual 1,-oilor inspection, 'the following wages were, asked for apprentices: First year, £1 per week; second year, £1 5s per week; third year, £1 12s 6d; fourth year, £2 2s 6<l; fifth year, £2 15#. The union that the proportion of apprentices should not exceed one to every four or fraction of four journeymen. The employers’ counter-proposals were that the week's work should not exceed 48 hours, eight and three-quarter hours to be worked on five [lays and four and a-qunrter hours on Saturday. The following rates of wages were proposed: Blocking (steam_ or water), open or box framing, hand linishing, hand cutting, velouring (before and after finishing), felt hats of all descriptions. Is lid per.hour. The employers asked that for overtime payment should bo maijo at the rate of lime and a-half for the first four hours for work done in excess of the hours specified above and double time thereafter. In regard to holidays the employers proposed that double time be paid for work done on Sunday, Good Friday, and Christmas Day, and time and a-half for work done on Now Year’s Day or the day following, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday the Kings Birthday, Labour Day, and Boxing Day. ' Some discussion took place on the question of the basis of payment, llio assessors for the employers asking for an hourly rate and those for the union proposing a weekly rate. , _ Mr Haymos said it was clear that if an hourly rale was introduced the wages would have to be more than Is lid per hour, as the workers would lose certain holidays for which they were now' paid. Eventually an hourly rate was agreed subject to an agreement being reached on the wages, question. The employers proposals in regard to overtime and holidays, were agreed to It was agreed that the hours of work should lie 4&2 hours per week. Mith regard to wages Mr Haymos said the workers were willing to accept 2s 3d per hour for a week of 461 hours or £4 15s for a similar week, all holidays to be paid for as under (he present award. Mr Cookson said that such a proposal could not be agreed , to. The industry w».s smaller now than it was when it was started, am! there was no likelihood of expansion owing to the competition by imported goods. The duty did not fully protect (he local .manufacturers, anti if the costs were to bo put up to the extent proposed the factories could not carry on. The employers were propared to offer 2s per hour for a week of hours, without, payment for holidays. After a lengthy discussion the assessors for (lie union agreed to accept 2s IJd per hour. Iml the employers’ representatives said thev could not agree to this. The Commissioner then suggested that a compromise be effected on the basis of a payment of 2s Id per hour, and after the parties hud conferred separately he announced that a complete settlement luid been effected. The question of apprentices was referred to the Arbitration Court. The award will come into operation on June 27. and will remain in force for two years. It will applv to (he Otago Provincial District.