FREEZING WORKERS

Patea Mail, Volume XLIX, 28 November 1928, Page 2

FREEZING WORKERS

XEW DOAIIXIOX AWARD. AVAGEF CLAUSE AMEXDED. Several important alterations in connection with the employment of freezu g workers throughout Xew Zealand are contained in the now Dominion award tiled by the Arbitration Court. At the original meetings between employers and employees, the former oOught a renewal of the existing award, with minor amendments covering overtime and the transportation of workers to their places of employment, the exclusion of watchmen from the provisions of the agreement, and a clear definition of work in connection with the “bobby 77 .calf industry. The workers pressed for generally improved tions and increases in wages. In the new wages clause provision has been made for work on ram lambs after January 1 for Xorth Island workers and after February 1 for South Island workers.

“Bobby 77 calves, which wore formerly paid for at (id a head up to 10 days old, have now been dealt with on a weight scale, owing to the men complaining that calves over 501 b in weight have been classed as days 7 ■alves. The new scale provides for payment at 7d per head up to GOH>, and !M per head ti)) to 801 b. A corresponding rate has been iixed for boners, and the definition of work to bo done on “bobby 77 calves has jeon amended to meet the requirements of the employers. A claim that in dressing “bobby 77 calves there should oe a limit of live men to a team has ueeii granted, subject to a larger number being employed when it is possible to employ them conveniently. It lias now been provided that foreiieu and other officials, who previously were not subject to the provisions of lie award while employed in those capacities, shall not be brought under its terms, merely because during the oil’ season they arc employed on cleaning, whiteiwashing and islmilar . general work. Freezing chamber hands, for whom special conditions as to hours md overtime were iixed by the expired award, are now placed under the .mu- conditions as other workers, subject to the power reserved by the court to make other provisions after .he expiration of 12 months. In order to obviate unfair use being made of the clause relating to a minimum weekly payment to casual slaughterhouse assistants, an additional sublause provides that when a worker is discharged and subsequently xe-en-gaged within four days, his employment shall be deemed to have been unbroken for the purpose of calculating no average weekly payment. Under the old award an early start at 7IJO a.m. was permitted only when the exigencies of the train service required, but the present award extends this provision, where the company the majority of the slaughtermen, agree, to bus,, service .car and similar services. Claims by the union for certain amendments in regard to overtime ates ami rates for pullers were refused. The award docs not exclude watchmen, but Axes their pay at £4 18s per week for permanents and 2s Id per hour for casuals.