WORK AND WAGES

Southland Times, Issue 19509, 8 May 1922, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES

SOUTH AFRICAN ENGINEERS. SECESSION FROM INDUSTRIAL FEDERATION. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) CAPETOWN, May 5. The Engine-drivers and Firemens’ Union, one of the most important on the Rand, has decided to seceed from the Industrial Federation. This is taken to be the result of a ballot along the Reef and elsewhere. AUSTRALIAN SHEARERS’ AWARD. FORTY-FOUR WEEK GRANTED. MELBOURNE, May 6. Mr Justice Powers has granted a 44 hour week to shearers, instead of 48, in the claim by the Australian Workers’ Union against the Pastoralists Federal Council of Australia. This is the only victory. Union rates are reduced from £2 to £1 10s a hundred. Shed hands are reduced from £4 10s a week with keep to £3 and keep for adults; proportionate rates for youths and boys. Wool pressers are reduced from 2s 8d to 2s a bale for greasy wool. A new feature is the daily rate for casuals employed for less than a week, the rate being one sixth of the weekly rate, the Judge explaining that it was unfair to compel employers to pay a week’s wages to wanderers calling at stations for a day’s work to help them on the journey. AFFAIRS IN NEW ZEALAND. STAGE EMPLOYEES’ AWARD. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 6. The Arbitration Court has filed its award in the case of the Wellington stage employees’ union, and it is to regarded as a model award for adoption in other districts for a term of two years. Some of the wages are as follows, rates for employees on tour being shown before those of resident employees : First mechanic £7 15s, (£6); second £7, (£5 ss; flyman, £6 10s; property man, £7 ss, (£5 10s) ; second £6 10e, (£4 15s); First electrician £7 ss, second £6 10s; wardrobe master, £5 15s, (£4 10s) ; wardrobe mistress, £5 5s (£4).