PRINTING TRADE AWARD

Southland Times, Issue 23773, 22 March 1939, Page 15

PRINTING TRADE AWARD

NO AGREEMENT ABOUT HOURS AND WAGES EMPLOYERS TO “REMAIN FIRM” (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 21. When the Conciliation Council proceedings for a New Zealand printing trade award were resumed today, Mr K. Baxter (advocate for the union’s assessors) stated that his side was not prepared to agree to the proposal of the employers, which included the present rates of wages, the existing classification and the present hours, with an arrangement by which two or four hours extra a day could be worked at ordinary rates. Mr C. H. Chapman said that the object of the Government in the encouragement of greater production was not to increase the hours of labour, but to ensure that a higher standard of living could be enjoyed. The adoption of a longer working week would be running counter to the objects of the Government. Mr H. J. Tubbs said that he understood the main object in asking for extra production was to protect the falling value of the New Zealand pound. The Commissioner: As far as internal arrangements are concerned, the falling pound doesn’t matter a straw. In the course of a general discussion about the maintenance of d standard of living and the part machinery plays, Mr J. M. Hardcastle said there were 168 hours in a week and _ employers were allowed to use machinery for 40 hours only. He pointed out that the need was not for an extra shift, but for a fractional increase. The employers did not want an extra 120 hours, but 12 or 15 hours. After further discussion, the commissioner remarked that the proposals of the employers had been definitely refused and he took it that was final. He suggested that it might be possible to arrive at a rate in advance of the existing rates for the two or four hours asked for. ■ After further discussion, Mr E. W. Clarkson said that the employers had invited the co-operation of the workers and had hoped their submissions would receive some consideration, but they had been idly brushed aside. The employers would remain firm on the maintenance of the classification, they would agree to no increase in wages, because they believed them already uneconomically high, and would remain firm in their aim for increased hours of work in those offices needing it. The employers were quite prepared to let those principal features go to the Court without any further discussion.

A deadlock having arisen on wages, hours, holidays and classification, the parties spent the remainder of thq day discussing machinery clauses. The non-representation of female workers was criticized by Mr B. Martin, secretary of the Auckland Female Printers’ Assistants Union and it was agreed that during the discussion of female workers’ wages he should replace one of the assessors nominated by the New Zealand Union. Mr Baxter said that it was desired to eliminate the Auckland and Wellington Female Printers’ Assistants’ Awards and include those subject to them in the general Dominion award. Mr Martin said that his union had no objection to being cited as a party to the award, but it wanted a reasonable opportunity of being heard, as it had been consulted by neither the respondents nor the applicants.