CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19783, 7 May 1926, Page 5

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

CANISTER WORKERS’ DISPUTE. A PARTIAL RECOMMENDATION. Tho Conciliation Commissioner (Mr W. 11. Hagger) presided at a sitting of the Conciliation Council yesterday to hear a dispute between tho Dunedin canister workers and tho employers. Messrs 11. E. Wells, A. Payton and J. Robinson were the workers’ assessors, and Messrs F. J. Lake. J. Eustace and W. Stevenson, jun., were the employers’ assessors. Mr A S. Cookson acted as agent for tho employers. The following were the principal clauses in the employees’ claims:—(l) Forty-four hours shall constitute a week’s work, to be worked between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on five days of the week, and 8 a.m. and noon on Saturdays; (2) The minimum rate of wages for adult canister workers shall be 2s 3d per hour; (3) all work done outside or or in excess of the hours mentioned in Clause I shall be considered overtime, and shall be paid for at the rate of time and a-half for the first two hours, and double time to tho ordinary hour of starting work. When overtime is worked, tea money (la 6d) shall be allowed each worker; (4| the following holidays shall bo observed —New Year’s Day, January 2, Good Friday. Easter Monday, Labour Day, Sovereign’s Birthday, Christmas Day. Boxing Day. All time worked on Sunday, Anzao Day, or the foregoing holidays shall be paid for at double time. When any holiday shall be generally observed on any day other than hereby prescribed, the provisions of this award shall apply to such substituted holiday; (5) the minimum wage payable to boys and youths under 21 ears of age, shall be—first year 265, second year 31s 6d, third year 39s fourth year 495, fifth year 65s per week. Theroafter the minimum wage as fixed for adult workers under this Award; (6) the proportion of boys and youths shall not exceed one to every three adult workers or fraction of first three For the purpose of determining the proportion as aforesaid the adult workers taken into account must have been employed by the employer in the establishment in which such boy or youth shall be taken on for the preceding six calendar months for at least two-thirds full time. The employers as a counter claim submitted the existing award. The Commissioner drew attention to the fact that the workers were applying for a 44-hour week compared with 48 hours in the existing award. The employers said that a 48-hour week was considered by the union to be too long. He thought it would be in the interests of the employers to reduce the number of hours worked. Henry Ford had realised that it was an advantage in many cases to reduce hours. Mr Cookson remarked that all this talk about Henry Ford would not take them anywhere. Mr Lake said that it was all very well to read about Henry Ford. Let them stick to their own country. Continuing Mr Robinson said that Mr Lake’s firm worked its canister works 44 hours and so did Mr Eustace’s firm, Mr Cookson said that canister workers were only a small fraction of the workers in some of the employers’ factories. He instanced the firms of Messrs Irvine and Stevenson and Messrs R. Hudson and Co., and added that it would lead to serious trouble if the canister workers walked out half an hour or more before the other workers. It was really machine work, and the machines were only capable of a limited output. Mr Robinson pointed out that in the case of linotype operators they left off work as soon as their job was finished, and others engaged in other departments of the newspaper continued, and no trouble arose. Mr Lake said it would be better to stick to the trade which they all knew something about. Mr Stevenson contended that a reduction of hours would not only mean a reduced output, but the cost of the article would be increased. His firm did a trade with London, and the meat market in London was at present in a parlous condition. Mr Cookson said that the Arbitration Court, after carefully examining the conditions of tho canister workers, had classed the trade as semi-skilled. It was agreed to hold over the clauses relating to hours, of work and also the minimum wage. The under-rate workers’ clause was agreed to without discussion. With regard to holidays it was decided to adopt the existing clause, with the addition of Anzac Day, for which, if work were performed on that day, double time would be paid; to increase tea allowance from Is 3d to Is 6d; and to insert New Year’s Day and the day following as holidays. It was agreed that wages should be paid weekly or fortnightly,’ not later than Friday of sucli pay week. It was decided that facilities for obtaining hot water for the Riid-day meal should be provided in every shop or factory. With regard to the hours of work, i* was agreed that it be a 48-hour week as at present. In regard to overtime, it was decided that tho rate should be time and a-half for the first three hours, and double time to the ordinary hour of starting work. It was decided that the question of wages, hours of work, and boys and youths’ work and female workers should be referred to the court.