CLOTHING TRADE AWARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23941, 17 October 1939, Page 2

CLOTHING TRADE AWARD

| ARBITRATION COURT DISPUTE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMAN EXAMINER "What is the minimum wage pay able to a female engaged as an examiner in a finishing room of a clothing factory?" was the question referred to the industrial magistrate (Mr J. A. Gilmour). when an application for interpretation of a clause in the clothing trades award was heard in the Arbitration Court yesterday. It was submitted by the inspector of awards (Mr W. H. Cadwallader) thai the company concerned. Ross and Glendining. Ltd. was not complying with the award by employing a woman as an examiner in charge, since it was understood that such work should be done by a male worker. No reference was made to examining in the female section of the award, so that it was clear that examining was not the. work of females. It was claimed that the woman would have to be paid the wage prescribed for an examiner in charge (£4 12s 6d) if the company continued to employ her. It was contended for the company for whom Mr A. S. Cookson appeared, that the award made no provisions for len examiners that it was framed purely for male labour and that if the question of women examiners had been raised before the court, a scale of wages would have been laid down proportionate to the wage* paid to iourneywomen and not. as was now by inference contended, in proportion to the wages of iourneymen. The wage to which this female worker was entitled under the award was £2 10s a week, but. as a specially efficient worker, she was being paid £3 10s a week. The magistrate reserved his decision.