CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 17786, 15 July 1916, Page 7

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

PAINTERS’ UNION. On Thursday afternoon the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr J. K. Triggs) had before him the dispute between the Southland Painters’ Union and the employers, the following being the assessors ;—For the men : Messrs P. Fairhank, J. Hall, and C. Provan: and for the employers: Messrs F. McChesney, A. McCulloch, and Wren. The rate of wages provided in the old award was Is 4Jd per hour, and the Union desired an increase to Is 6d. After some discussion it was* stated that the Dunedin Union had applied for an award which had not yet been filed, and on the Commissioner’s suggestion, it was decided to hold over the dispute until It was seen what action would be taken in the north. BUTCHERS’ AGREEMENT. Tiie Invercargill and • Suburbs and Bluff Butchers’ Union bad taken steps with a view to an agreement being- arrived at with the assistance of the Commissioner. but the employers offered to meet them In conference and an agreement was come to satisfactorily to both parties. The following new clauses were inserted in the agreement ; 1. (a) The hours of work shall not exceed the hours provided for shop assistants In The Shops and Offices Act, 1908, and its amendments. (b) In the case of ordinary employees the following meal hours shall he allowed : Not less than half-an-hour for breakfast each day in flic week; one hour for dinner each day except. Wednesday; and one hour for tea on Saturdays, In the case of employees who are required to cart meat from the abattoirs, half-aij-hour for breakfast and one hour for dinner shall he allowed each day except Wednesday, when the breakfast half-hour only shall be allowed, (c) Notwithstanding anything herein contained, a worker may be employed at any hour to supply shipping; Provided that if the time so occupied is in excess of the hours provided under The Shops and Offices Act, 1908, overtime shall be paid at the rate of time and a half. 2. —The following shall be the minimum rate of wages to he paid to the several classes of workmen hereinafter specified, that is to say : First shopman. £3 15s per week: second shopman, £3 5s per week; first small goods matt, £3 15s per week; all other workers employed in connection with the busines, including waggoners, shopmen, small goods men, carters In charge of hawking or other carts, and general hands, £2 18s per week. Previously the men were allowed their meat, hut in the agreement a 5s cash advance has been made, meat being excluded. In regard to the men referred to in the last sentence commencing with “Other workers” and ending with “£2 18s per week,” they will receive £2 18s per week, instead of £2 11s sd, and meat provided in the old award. The employment of female labour (other than the wife or daughter of the employer) shall not be allowed, and no employee shall he permitted to have the assistance of female labour tit any time. Tiie provisions of the agreement shall not apply to clerks or other workers engaged exclusively on tiie office work of an employer. Tins industrial agreement shall come into force on tiie Ist day of Jul>, 191G, and continue in force until the 30Ui day of June, 1918.