THE DOMESTIC WORKER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 14

THE DOMESTIC WORKER.

In view of the fact that steps are being 5 taken locally to form a Domestio Workers' Union, the following proposed conditions of labour of the Canterbury Domestio Workers' Industrial Union of Workera should prove of general interest:—

Twelve cla*see of worker* shall be recog* msed— i.e., housekeepers, working housekeepers, ladyhelps, mothers' helps, generals, nursemaids, nuraea-in-charge, kitchenmaids, kundryroaids, housemaids, cooks, «md house-maid-waitresses. The week's worJk. shall not exceed 71 hours, to be decided as follows: — (a) Work may oonunence on every morning, except on holidays mentioned in clause 3, afc 6.30 a.m., and cease on four days in the week at 7.80 p.m., and on one day>jn tKeweek at 10 p.m., with three intervals of not less -than half an hour for meals each and one hour interval in the afternoon of each day. (b) Other hours for commencing and ceasing- work may be arranged by mutual agreement, providing the- total number of hours worked in one week does" not exceect 65J, end every alternate week 71. (c) On •every alternate Sunday and on one other day in the week worfc shall cease at 2- p.m.,, with two intervals of not less than half an. hour for meals each.

Holidays. — Christmas Day, Boxing Day, :New Year 1 * E«y, Anniversary Day, Birthdayj of the reigning Sovereign,, Prince of Wales'a Birthday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, an_ all statutory holidays shall be deemed to be holidays. Work done on these days shall be paid for at double time rates. A mutual arrangement may be >_tade whereby a day. may be substituted in lieu of the statutory holiday, providing the day arranged be in the same week} and that the arrangement be maje not less ttuan seven Says prior TO the particular stetntc-ry holiday. Where such! arrangement has been made* and adhered to, no double time -mil be charged for work done on statutory holidays..

Overtime Rates. — All time worked in excesg of time mentioned in any preceding clause shall be paid for at time and a-half rates. Workers shall be- in every evening not lftter than 10.30, exotpt on one evening in the week when ihe time may be extended; as may b« mutually agreed upon. Members of the union shall ba employed in preference to non-members. Employers shall- provide wholesome food and well-ventilated bedrooms for domestic workers.

Wages. — The minimum -wage snail .be:— »■ Housekeepers £1, cooks £1, laundrymaids £1, working housekeepers 17s 6d, nurses-in-charge* 17s 6d, housemaid-waitresses 17s 6dt, generals 15s, housemaids 15s, fcitcbennnudtr 15b-, huStynelps 12s 6d, nursemaids 10s, r_other&' helps Bs. Workers shall be free to arrange prioit to engagement to work for higher rates than; those set down a» the minimum, and axji refusal -to «ngage at the- minimum rater wilF not bo deemed a breach of award. Seven* days' notice on either side shall be necessary to termina-te an engagement. It shall be de* cided at the time of engagement by mutual agreement when wages shall be paid; but) they shall not be held longer than on* month, and shall be paid in full and by cash.

In case of a. ditpute over tner interpretfttionr" of any of th» foregoing ol_«se» or any difference of opinion on matters not therein dealt with, the point at issue shall, if- either party bo desire, be referred to a. committee con--sisting of tyro representatives of th« union (to be appointed, within 48 hours of the service on the secretary or president of th» union of a notice in --writing by the employer calling for such appointment), *nd a like number of representatives on behaJf ot the other party or parties interested (to b« appointed within 48 hours of the service onsuch party or parties of a- notice in writingby the secretary or president of th» unioncalling for such appointment), an_ of a chairman to be chosen by all the repie9ent_tives appointed. Such ch-airman shall hava a casting vote only. Any matter referred to such committee shall "b& decided by the majority of the votes of the m«rabeTS of the committee, or, in case of equality of votes, vbj the casting vote of the chairman. Il_ such) committee shall fail to appoint - chairman and give a decision on any matter referred! to it within seven days- of the time of tho service of the last of stfch notices on the secretary or the president of the union, oni the one hand, or the other party to bar affected, on the other, then either party shall be Bt liberty to deal vrilh such matter* as if this clause had not been inserted herein. If such committee shall, within the said period of seven days, give its decision on such matter, then such decision shall be firm* and conclusive as between the union ana every member thereof, on the one hand, anct any employer who appointed representatives on such committee on the other. AUCKLAND, January 28. At the nresenf time, when the searcatof domestio labour is the despair of the reiristrv offices and the desperation mistresse*. an experiment which is being tried by Miss Tennant, of an Auckland registry office wall be watched with considerable 1 intero-«K Miss Tennant bos written to the superintendent of Dr "Barnardo a Home in England a^kinir if a number of the boys instructed in household work could be sent out to New Zealand for engagement In the letter an undertaking haa been given that the boys wall be well cared for and given, suitable employment.