ROPE WORKERS’ DISPUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23365, 3 December 1937, Page 7

ROPE WORKERS’ DISPUTE

WAGES QUESTION SETTLED The adjourned hearing of the industrial dispute between the Dunedin Rope and Twine Spinners’ Industrial Uvion of Workers and Donaghy’s Rope and Twine Company, Ltd., was concluded before the Conciliation Council yesterday. The commissioner (Mr S, Ritchie) presided. The employers’ assessors were Messrs H. F. Sincock, R. M. Passmore, H. F. Evans and A. S. Cookson, and the assessors for the workers were Messrs T. Rowland, D, Thompson, W. Baker and J. Robinson.

The hours of work were fixed at 40 per week of five eight-hour days. A provision was embodied in the agreement permitting shift work as required by the employer, all shifts to be worked between Monday and Friday (inclusive). Shift workers are to be paid at the rate of 3d per hour, in addition to the rates of wages prescribed.

Rates of wages were fixed as, follows:—Head rope-maker, 2s 9d per hour; assistant rope-maker, 2s sd; leading feeder hand on first spreader (male), 2s 4d; general hands, 2s 3d. Youths: First six months, 18s 6d per week; second. £ 1 2s 6d; third, £1 7s 6d; fourth, £1 15s; third year, £2 2s 6d; fourth year, £2 12s 6d; fifth year, £3 2s 6d; thereafter the minimum wage for adult workers. Female workers; First six months, 15s per week; second, 19s; third, £1 3s; fourth, £1 7s; fifth, £1 11s; sixth, £1 15s; fourth year, £2; thereafter. £2 7s 6d.

The agreement also provided that overtime work should be paid for at the rate of time and a-half for the first four hours and double time thereafter.

The question of under-rate workers was referred to the court. The term of the award was fixed at one year, commencing to-day.