OIL STORE EMPLOYEES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23203, 29 May 1937, Page 11

OIL STORE EMPLOYEES

CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS FINAL SETTLEMENT NOT REACHED (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 28. No final settlement was reached to-day when the hearing of the dispute between the New Zealand oil store employees and the oil companies of New Zealand was resumed before the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr S. Ritchie). The hearing was previously adjourned in December last to enable representations to be made to the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr D. G. Sullivan). To-day's discussion was mainly on the question of wages and hours, but nothing definite was agreed upon and the discussion is to continue to-morrow. The employers offered an increase of 5s on the 1931 weekly wage level, bringing the wage of the men up to £4 12s 6d. They offered a casual rate of 2s 4£d an hour. This was not acceptable to the employees, who asked for a weekly wage of £5 5s Gd with payment for casual labour at the rate of 2s 9d an hour. A settlement on the question of youths' wages was reached. All employees over the age of 20 are to be classed as adults and paid accordingly. The question of the wages, hours, and holidays for watchmen employed at oil stores was also settled.