AN AMICABLE LABOUR AGREEMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2782, 10 July 1907, Page 21

AN AMICABLE LABOUR AGREEMENT.

(Fbou Our Own Cokhispondent.) AUCKLAND, July 5. The conference between" the director* and employees of the Thames VaHey Cooperative Dairying Company regarding; wages, allowances, etc., resulted in aw amicable arrangement being come to. Tho conference was held in consequence of circulars being sent to the employees from a representative of the labour unions asking them .to form a union and demand much higher Wages than they are getting. The company, on. the other hand, had been requested by leading dairy companies in the province to assist in formulating a. ' scheme to counteract the labour unions' , proposals. After discussing the matter,

jibe employees wrote to the directors stating that they would be satisfied with the (rages and conditions adopted in the Taranaki district, except that where men are now receiving a higher rate of wages no reductions are to be made. The directors

agree to raiee the wages of the employees to the Taranaki scale where they are below 1 that rate, andi not to make any reductions where the wages paid are greater than in Taranaki. The schedule agreed upon for the butter factories is as follows: — Factory turning out 400 to tiOO tons: Buttermaker (average wage), £3 per week : first assistant, £2 7s 6d ; second assistant, £2 2s 6d ; head engine-driveT.-i>3 ; casual hands, £1 12s 6d. Factory turning out 200 to 400 tons: Buttermaker, £2 17s 6d per week; first assistant, £2 sb; second assistant, £2; casual hands, £1 10s. The separator-man in any factory where the quantity separated is over 3000 gallons is to receive an average wage of £2 2s 6d per week; from 1000 to 3000 gallons, £2; under 1000 gallons. £1 15s. Allowances of house fuel, Gutter, and milk are also to be given to creamery managers and factory employees. Two weeks' holiday on full pay are to be given to all employees who have worked eight months in any one season, the season to commence on August 1. The ereamerjs. ,Tr.an«j?erj are also to receive double pay for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, which is not allowed under the Taranaki agreement.