AWARD FOR BOOT REPAIRERS

Southland Times, Issue 23780, 30 March 1939, Page 5

AWARD FOR BOOT REPAIRERS

40-HOUR WEEK FIXED WAGES TO BE £4 15/- A WEEK (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, March 29. Agreement on the terms of a Dominion award for boot repairers was reached in the Conciliation Council, The hours of work were fixed at 40 for a five-and-a-half-day week. The competition of one-man establishments was quoted by the employers as the only bar to a five-day week. Mr Watts said that the Auckland employers proposed a joint deputation with the workers to the responsible Minister to ask for legislation to close all footwear repairing establishments on Saturdays. • It was stated that the question would be discussed at a conference of the employers at Easter and if they could agree to ask for such legislation and could obtain it, they would be willing to reopen discussion on a five-day week. A memorandum to this effect was put on record, the workers agreeing to a 40-hour week of five days and a-half.

Rates of wages for all male workers, except those paid under-rate by special agreement, had been fixed at 2/7 an hour or not less than £4 15/- a week without deduction through sickness, accident or default. An employer may arrange with his employees to work on piecework at rates to be mutually agreed upon between the union and himself. Overtime is to be paid for at time and a-half for the first three hours and double time thereafter. One week’s holiday on full pay is to be granted to each worker on the completion of 12 months’ service, in addition to nine other days set down as public holidays to be observed by the industry. Women workers shall receive £4 a week, from which no deduction is to be made for time lost. The term of the award was fixed at two years, beginning on April 1, 1939.