CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22125, 1 December 1933, Page 3

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

SHOP ASSISTANTS’ DISPUTE A sitting of the Conciliation Council was held yesterday to hear a dispute between the Shop Assistants!’ Union of Otago and Southland and the employers. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr S. Ritchie) presided, the employers being represented by Messrs N. Wood, G. Crow,G. Dick, and A. S. Cookson, and the union by Messrs C. M. Hughes, F. Grave, and W. W. Batchelor. i The employers requested a new award, the old award being filed as a counter claim by the union. The majority of the points as to working conditions were agreed upon, the principal matter in dispute being that of wages. It was pointed out that there was a hearing of this dispute recently in Wellington, and the employers there worked in agreement with those throughout the Dominion and arranged conditions that would give general satisfaction. At yesterday’s sitting both parties were considerably restricted in their arguments to the cases advanced in Wellington. The employers’ offer did not constitute a direct wage reduction all round, but suggested a readjustment of various classifications of assistants and their wages. Their offer made no alteration to the senior rates of the old award, the only question in dispute being the wages of juniors in their first three years. After an adjournment to allow the assessors to discuss the matter further, the union representatives suggested that in conideration of their agreeing to the reduction of wages for junior's, the employers should increase the wages of seniors from £4 5s fid to £4 I2s fid weekly, but the employers’ assessors pointed out that the increased rate was in excess of the amount provided for in the counter-claim, and that they were not, therefore, prepared to consider the proposal. A lengthy discussion ensued, and Mr Batchelor moved: “That the dispute be referred to the Arbitration Court.” Mr Grave seconded the motion, which was lost, and it was finally decided that the hearing be adjourned until December 14.