WORK COMMENCED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26543, 19 August 1947, Page 6

WORK COMMENCED

Arbitration Court’s Review of Awards LENGTHY TASK INVOLVED Industrial Correspondent WELLINGTON, Aug. 18. The Arbitration Court began to-day to review the awards of various unions to bring them into line with its pronouncement increasing the standard rates of wages. The court has begun with those awards under which little difficulty is anticipated in making the necessary alterations to provide for the increase of approximately 3d an hour or 10s weekly. Trades Hall officials reported to-day that there were comparatively few industries in which some measure of increase in pay had not been won or granted since the court’s last pronouncement on March 17, 1945. A great many unions have had at least ljd an hour or 5s a week increase in the last 12 months. The pending increase for* their members will, in most of these cases, be less than 5s gross weekly. A great many workers to-day, especially in key trades and luxury industries, are already receiving plus rates. They will not be legally entitled to more, but are expecting commensurate increases because of the continued shortage of labour. The position within many unions is extremely confused, because in some industries coming within the scope of, perhaps, one union there are workers who have received increases to a varying degree. In many cases the actual extent of the increase to be paid to the workers remains l obscure and can be determined only by reference to the court. In consequence, there is likely to be a long delay before all adjustments are completed.