THE WESTPORT UNEMPLOYED. WESTPORT, August 15.

Otago Witness, Issue 2527, 20 August 1902, Page 29

THE WESTPORT UNEMPLOYED. WESTPORT, August 15.

At a meeting of the unemployed, called l>y the Mayor to-day, strong exception was taken by several of the men to the appointment of the sergeant of polio© as labour agent for the district. The following resolution was carried: — "That this meeting respeotfully wishes to call the attention of th« Minister of Labour to the fact that the Labour Office being attached to tlie Polie* Department completely robs it of any virtue it was intended it should poseess for the advantage of those who are deserving of benefits it can bestow; in short, that the better class of tlie unemployed absolutely refuse to recognise this Office while under police bupervision, feeling, no doubt, that they may become acquainted with" it soon enough without being diiven to the police by the Gt^eminent."

A DISPUTE IS THE BAKINtt TRADE.

An industrial dispute, to be referred direct to -the Arbitration Court, was filed with the .clerk of awards (Mr A. Stubbs) on Monday afternoon. The parties are the Dunedin Bakers' and Pastrycooks' Union and the Master Bakers of Otago and Southland. Of the latter 118 have been cited, including the Master Bakers' Association of Dunedin, which has a membership of 37. The following ia the reference: —

1. That tho hours of labour be 48 per week, divided as* follows:— Eight and a-half hours $>er day for five days in the week, five and a-half fccurs on the half holiday. fl. £h&t the hour of starting work elull not

be earlier than 4 a.m., excepting Saturday and the day immediately following any publio holiday, when i+. may be one hour earb'er — namely 8 o'clock. In the event of double holidays commence work two hour* earlier. 3. In houses where dough machines are used tho dough men may start work ono and a-half hours earlier thin tho houi mentioned in No. 2. Only journeymen will be allowed at this particular wofk. 4. Id overtime is required time and arquarter ehall be paid up to 6 p.m. ; time and a-half up to 10 p.m. No work after that hour, hot cross bun nigtit excepted, when doable time shall be paid after 6 p.m. Overtime for boys^ — 9«l shall be paid per boar for Ijhe first two yeare. The last year of his apprenticeship he shall be paid time and a-quart«r. 5. Any man or boy working on a holiday sha.ll be paid time and a-half in addition to usual wage. 6. That the proportion of apprentices shall be as follows : — One apprentice to three men or under ; more than three men and up to six, two apprentices. No moro allowed in any bakehouse.

7. All apprentices must be legally indentured for a terra of four years after a- trial of three months, and be taught his trade thoroughly. Te last six months of hia apprenticeship he shall be taught fermentation, sponging, and oven work. After , three years at trade he must join the Dunedin Bakera' and Pastrycooks' Union, and subscribe ha-lf contributions. Apprenticaj at p*esent employed must "be bound rfor the remainder oi their apprenticeship. 8. In the event of an employer being unable to fulfil his obligations to an apprentice it shall be lawful for that apprentice to finish his lime -with another employer, notwithstanding that such employer has already the full number of apprentices allowed by these conditions. 9. Wages of inferior tradesmen or infirm men ahull be settled by a tribunal consisting of three xaea from ihe union and three from the Masters' Association. Failing a settlement the chairman of the Conciliation Board shall definitely decide what the wage shall be.

10. "Wages of apprentices shall be as follows:—l2s 6d for the first six months, 15s for tho second six months, 18s for the third six months, 21s for the fourth six months, 25s lor the fifth six months, 30s for the sixth six months, 35s for tho seventh six months, and 40s for tho eighth six mouths.

11. Tha-t any man or boy driving a bread cart or engaged in delivering bread shall not be allowed to work in the bakehouse, and no baker shall be allowed to drive'a cart or deliver bread. Bakers and carters shall be two distinct branches of the trade.

12. No improvers to be recognised in the trade.

13. That tho rate of wages shall be as follows- — Foreman not less than £3 5s per week and bread ; second ha-r.d, £2 15s per week and bread ; table band, £2 10s per week and bread. This shall be the minimum. 14. Foreman working in country bakehouse vhere none but himself is employed shall not receive leas tha:i £2 15s per week. In the event of having to board with the employer he shall pay the employer a sum not exceeding 15s per week.

15. That union men be given preference of employment.

16. When non-iinionists are employed there shall be no distinction between unionists and non-nnioniats ; both shall work in harmony together, and shall work under the same conditions, and receive equal pay for equal work.

17. That a time-book be kept in every bakehouse, and that the hours of labour be recorded by ths foreman daily. The tvßges paid etch employee anall be shown and signed for by the recipient; also such book shall be open for inspection by the secretary of the union or inspector of factories.

18. That all wages shall be paid weekly or fortnightly. 19. That the jobbers rtite of pay shpll be 11s for eight houis. Jobbers acting «s foremen shall receive Is 6d extra 2>er day. Jobbers working for two hours shall be paid at tho rate of Is Gd per hour, if engaged by the week £2 15s.

!20. That Sunday sponging cover all holidays. In bakehouse where the employer or eo-i is m charge 'of the bakehouse they shall be deemed to iai:x as employees, and shall sponge every alternate Sunday and holiday with the men.

21. That no man or boy work longer than four and a-half hours before breakfast.

22. That no bread be manufactured by contract or otherwise than weekly wage. 23. That the employment book of the union eh all be kept in the Trades' Hall, Moray place, phov.-ing names of idle mtn and their qualifications, etc. That all men jor days jobbing must be sp'.ected from employment" book. 24. Employers in the country requiring men ara requested to write to the secretary of theurion for such, at tho same time forwarding sufficient money to pay ihe fare in advance. Members goiug to country situations shall sign an agreement allowing the employer to deduct the amount from the first month's wage. The suncunt to be refunded to the employee at the end of three months. Tlie secretary's" signature shall be sufficient and binding on ths member on behalf of the employer. One copy of the agreement shall b« kept by the member and on" ported to the employers' place of busir.tae.

25. That a copy of this ?£reenicnt B i la i] i D6 hung in every bakehouse m Otago for refeience.