CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22964, 20 August 1936, Page 13

CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS

STOREMEN AND PACKERS (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 19. The Conciliation Council is hearing the dispute of the Federated Storemen and Packers (other than retail shops) and Warehouse Employees' (other than drivers and clerks) Association of Workers (applicants) and the Soft Goods Warehousemen (respondents). A 40-hour week is sought, with wages ranging up to £6 10s. The employers' counter-proposals ask that the term " warehouseman" shall mean any worker except a storeman or packer engaged in any capacity in connection with the reception, display, sale, despatch, or delivery of goods in or for establishments of those employers bound by the award, with wages up to £4 ss. Protests were made on behalf of the Otago, Southland and Auckland soft goods warehousemen to being' included in the award asked for by the applicant union, and reasons were given for the objections made. The commissioner said the council could not go into the question of registration. That was a matter that must be decided by the Arbitration Court, to which the protests would be forwarded. The wages question was held over until Friday. The parties failed to agree on the hours of work and on a definition of and the rates of pay for casual workers. Overtime rates were fixed at time and a-half for the first three hours and double time thereafter. The hearing was adjourned till to-morrow. BAKERS AND PASTRYCOOKS A COMPLETE AGREEMENT (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 19. A complete settlement with the exception of the clause relating to under-rate workers was effected in the bakers and pastrycooks and related trades dispute. The hearing was resumed in the Conciliation Council to-day, the commissioner, Mr S. Ritchie, presiding. The adjournment made last night was to enable the workers to consider the wages offer by the employers. Mr T. O. Bishop (for the employers) reported that an agreement had been reached on the following rates:— Foreman £6 a week, journeymen £5 10s, labourers £4 10s. A 44-hour week was agreed on, with provision for 4 a.m. starting time for both bakers and pastrycooks. A special arrangement was made for ,a penal rate of 2s an hour for adults and Is 3d for juniors for time worked before 4 a.m.

The hearing was notable for the number of adjournments made, enabling the parties to agree. The proceedings to-day were particularly informal, and the commissioner complimented the parties on the spirit shown in the proceedings.