WHAT THE SHED HANDS WANT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 49, 3 April 1914, Page 11

WHAT THE SHED HANDS WANT.

IN THE NEW AWARD. (Sun Special.) WELLINGTON, April 3. The agreement existing between the New Zealand Shearers and Wool shed Employees' Industrial Association of Workers and the New Zealand Sheep-owners and Farmers Federation has expired, and the representatives of the men have filed a new demand, the chief points of which arc as follow: THE NEW CONDITIONS. 1. The employee shall agree with the employer that he will on a specified date commence work at station (to be named). 2. A week's notice on either side shall terminate the engagement. 3. The employee shall diligently perform his work, and conduct himself properly therein, and shall continue so" working from day to day during the regular shearing hours, and such Udditional time as may be necessary for clearing up the sheds and the shearing board to the satisfaction of the employer or "his agent. 4. In consideration of such services being duly and faithfully performed, the employer shall p&y the employee wages at the rate of £2 per week and found for each and every *week during which the employee shall have worked in accordance with the agreement. 5. The employer during such employment shall provide employees with good and sufficient hut accommodation, cooking, washing, and table utensils, wood and water free of charge, and will also provide sanitary conveniences. 6. The employer at his own cost shall provide the employee with good and sufficient rations, cooked by a competent cook, to be engaged and remunerated by the employer. - 7. The employer at the commencement of shearing shall appoint a certain day upon which in each and every week he shall, if so required by the employee, pay to him the net amount due at the time of such request over and above the amount of one week's earnings. 8. The employer shall find free grazing for one horse for each shed hand. 9. The employee shall not bring nor cause any intoxicating liquor to be brought on to the station. 10. The employer shall pay any certified order drawn by the employee, .for any contributions or donations, up to the amount due to him over and above one week's earnings, and .association agents shall be allowed access to the men s huts# # 11* No shed .hand shall be compelled to do "other than shed work. 12. No picker-up shall have more than five shearers to attend to. . << RATES FOR PRESSERS. (!) Woolpressers shall receive not less than £2 10/- per week and found where under 10 shearers are employed;' and when 10 or more are employed the remuneration shall be 1/6 per bale of 3Acwt, or 6d per cwt, and when pressing with screw or similar presses, 7d per cwt. (2) Where pressing., is done by contract, all men engaged at the press shall receive equal payment. (3) Where pressers do and stacking they shall be paid extra. (4) All wool presses shall be kept in good working order by the employer. RATES FOR COOKS. (1) Cooks shall be< paid as follows: For cooking for under 20 men the wages shall be not less than £3 pei week; for 20 men and up to 30, not less than £4 per week; and for over 30 men not less than £5 per. .week. (2) Cooks' assistants shall receive not less than £2 per week. ■ (3) Separate sleeping accommodation shall be provided for cooks and cooks' assistants. , THE OLD RATES. The rates of pay for shed haifds existing under the expired award were as follow: — (a) Pressers and wool-rollers, when engaged by the week, £1 10/- per week; and "when not engaged by the week, 1/- per hour. (b) All other shed hands, when en-o-aged. by the week, £1 7/6- per week; and when not engaged by the week, lid per hour. (c) A pressor may work at a piecework rate to be agreed oil with his employer, but so that he shall in event be paid not less than the minimum hourly rate herein specified for time actually worked by him. (d) Cooks, £L 15/- per,week; cooks' assistants, £1 7/6 per week. _ - ■ (e) Each worker shall be with rations by his employer. In any case where it is agreed between the employer and the worker that the worker shall provide his own rations, ho shall be paid 15/- per week in addition to the rate hereinbefore speeif' C( 1. (f) Youths under the age of 18 years may be employed at not less than £1 per week, with board and lodging. The various sheep owners' unions throughout the Dominion will shortly consider the demands .and decide upon the action to be taken.