DOMESTIC WORKERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 49

DOMESTIC WORKERS.

DEMANDS OF THE UNION. (Fxou Otra Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, February 11. Wellington is blessed with a Domestic Workers' Union — a union duiy registered under the act. I have no doubt that it will shortly appear before the Arbitration Court as the claimant for a domestic workers' award. There is quite a flutter in the mistresses dovecot as to whether they should appear before the court in person or by representation, or whether their lords and masters, who pay the wages, are not tho legal employers of the servant girls. The demands of" the union are as follows : — 1. Eight classes of workers shall be recognised — i.c , housekeepers, lady helps, generals, housemaids, nursemaids, kitchenmaids, laundrymaids, and cooks 2 The week's work shall consist of 68 hours, to be divided as follows : — Work to commence on every morning, except on holidays mentioned, in clause 3, a.t 6.30 a.m., and cease on

Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7.30 p.m., with three intervals of half an hour each, for meals, and one hour, interval in the afternoon on each day. On Thursdays work shall cease at 2 p m. t with two intervals of half an hour each for meals. On Sundays work sbal! cease at 2 p.m., with two intervals of half an hour each for meals, but domestics shall, if required, prepare tea between the hours of 5.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. on alternate Sundays. On Wednesdays work shall cease at 10 p.m., with three intervals of half an hour each for meals, and one hour's interval in the afternoon. On Sundays two hours shall be allowed to attend church in the morning. 3. Holidays : Christmas Day. Coxing Day. New Year's Day, King's Birthday, Prince of Wales's Buthday. Anniversary Day, Easter Monday, Labour Day, and all statutory holidays shall be deemed to be holidays, and work done on those days shall be paid for at the rate of Is per hour. Domestics shall be in every evening at 10 p.m. except on Thursday evenings, and on that night at 12 p m. 4. Members of the union snail be employed in preference to non-members. 5. Where uniform is required to be worn, it shall be provided by the employer — dress, caps, collars, cuffs, and aprons. 6. That employers provide well-ventilated bedrooms for domestic workers.