HIGHER WAGES GRANTED

Southland Times, Issue 23379, 10 December 1937, Page 13

HIGHER WAGES GRANTED

PRINTING INDUSTRY AGREEMENT

COURT’S PRONOUNCEMENT

ACCEPTED

(United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 9. Agreement on the terms .of two awards for newspapers publishing and commercial printing industries was concluded today by the Conciliation Council over which Mr M. J. Reardon presided. The only matter remaining for further consideration is the clause defining the basis- for the payment of machine composition by piece operators. The council acted on the recent announcement by the Court of Arbitration that it proposed to make a general increase of 5/- on the existing rates of wages of adult male weekly workers The principal rates in both awards were accordingly increased by 5/- in each case. Consequential adjustments were made in special payments. A general classification to include adult male employees not otherwise designated was introduced in the Related Trades Award. The wage for adult males in the publishing department was fixed at £4 7/6. Provision was also made for female and junior workers and for casuals in this section. Minimum wages for females were fixed at £1 for .the first six months, increasing by 4/- each half year to £2 with £2 4/- in the fourth year, £2 12/- in the fifth year, and thereafter £2 18/-. An amendment of what is known as the “cast up” clause, which fixes the basis for computing piece operators’ earnings was considered. It was finally agreed that the employers’ assessors should intimate within one week whether they would approve this amendment. If they do not do so the workers’ organization will have the right to refer the question to the Court of Arbitration. The workers’ assessors asked for some special provision for adult male workers regularly employed six days weekly. It was agreed that these workers should receive, in addition to the holidays otherwise prescribed, one other whole holiday annually. The two awards will come into force about December 19 and will continue in force until December 31, 1938. At the conclusion of the proceedings the employers’ agent, Mr E. A. Clarkson, explained the views of the employers on wages. He said that the decision by the Court further to increase wages had no apparent relation to the present or prospective economic conditions nor to the ability of industries generally to pay the higher wages proposed. “The employers in the printing industry recognize that if the dispute were referred to the Court the existing wages would be raised in accordance with the Court’s pronouncement,” he said, “but in agreeing to make the increase now they record their opinion that it is not warranted and the consequent inflation of the cost of printing will cause ,a serious reduction of production and corresponding unemployment among those now employed by the industry.” NEW CONDITIONS FOR LABOURERS FIVE-DAY WEEK FIXED (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 9. A complete settlement resulted from the hearing of the local bodies labourers’ dispute which was continued in the Conciliation Council today before Mr S. Ritchie. The new conditions will come into force on December 15 and remain effective until March 31, 1939. The agreement provides for a 40-hour week to be worked in eight-hour shifts on five days of the week with no work on Saturdays. The shifts must be worked between 7.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. There is special provision for emergency work enabling employers to work men where necessary. Under the new wages scale permanent workers are to receive £4 10/- a week, weekly workers will receive £4 8/4 a week, ‘and casual workers 2/4 an hour. A permanent worker is classed as any man who has been employed for 12 months, or who has been classed as a permanent worker by a decision of the local body concerned. Weekly workers must be guaranteed a minimum of four weeks work or else be paid not less than the hourly rate. Permanent workers are to be given one week’s holiday at the conclusion of each year of service. When men are required to work in wet places or in places where the air is foul six hours’ work is to constitute a shift and is to be treated as eight hours’ work. Employees are also to be paid 2d a hour extra when removing boulders, metal, or stone by hand from under water.