PRINTING TRADES DISPUTE

Southland Times, Issue 23308, 18 September 1937, Page 4

PRINTING TRADES DISPUTE

COMMISSIONER EXPECTS A SETTLEMENT (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 17. A further deadlock occurred in the Conciliation Council when the New Zealand printing and related trades dispute was resumed before Mr M. J. Reardon. . The workers submitted new rates of pay based on the recent pronouncement of the Court of Arbitration but these were unacceptable to the employers who contended that the reduction pf hours of work to 40 did not warrant an increase in the wages. They further contended that the Court’s pronouncement was for casual employment and allowance should be made for work of a more permanent nature. After an adjournment had been taken Mr E. W. Clarkson (the employers’ agent) said the employers would offer an increase of 2/6 for journeymen on weekly wages with a proportionate increase for other male workers. For females they considered the employers counter-proposals were more than adequate. After the workers had considered the matter Mr C. H. Chapman, M.P., (the workers’ assessor) said the offer was quite unacceptable. The amount was totally insufficient and the workers felt they would rather go to the Court. Mr Clarkson said the employers would have no objection to the matter going before the Court as soon as possible. Before the luncheon adjournment the Commissioner said the policy of the Government was that the wages should be substantial and, in his view, the results based on that policy had been eminently satisfactory to the country. He could see there was merit in the employers’ argument but he thought that as far as the cities, at least, were concerned the employers had seriously to consider some concession in the matter of wages. He did not think it would be sufficient for the employers to set the reduction in hours against some concession in wages. He hoped the employers could see their way to make some concession in the wages, even if they felt that the logic of the position was against them. The men could not be expected to be satisfied with the present rate when everybody around them was getting concessions. There was a general all-round increase and they could not expect to see a contented body of workers if the workers saw carpenters, waterside workers and labourers getting increases. It was not reasonable to expect it. When the hearing was adjourned this afternoon until tomorrow morning the workers’ assessors were still considering a further offer’of the employers as follows: An increase of 2/6 for adult male workers employed five days a week; an increase of 5/- to adult male workers employed six days a week, an increase of 2/6 to those in Class Two in the award employed six days a week; an allowance for night workers of 10 per cent, for all workers, including piece workers; all piece work to be as in the counter-proposals made by the employers. This offer was made conditional on the workers agreeing to the classification as in the old award and the difference in payment for Class One .nd Class Two workers, the whole to operate as from the first working week beginning September 27. "We have come very close to an agreement on the major issues,” said the Commissioner, “and I do not think we should fail to make a settlement.”