DRAPERS' ASSISTANTS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 963, 13 March 1917, Page 11

DRAPERS' ASSISTANTS.

WAGES AND CONDITIONS OF WORK. Representatives of the Christchurch Retail Drapers' Assistants' Union and the employers in the drapery trade met this morning to consider a new schedule of wages and conditions submitted by the union. The Conciliation Commissioner, Mr J. R. Triggs, presided, and the assessors were: For the union, Messrs 11. 1). Martin, W. B. Steel, and William Clive, and for the employers Messrs P. L. Orr, W. Penrose, and It. V. Free. Mr li. I). Broadhead appeared as agent for die employers. At the commencement of the proceedings, it was pointed out by a Kaiapoi employer thai not all the drapers in that district had been cited, and a lull list was then compiled. Mr J. Davidson, of Kaikoura, applied for exemption, making specific and detailed objection to the union's claims, both upon general grounds, and as particularly not applicable to a district like Kaikoura, saying, in regard to the preference clause, that no employer should have it thrust upon him, as by this means he would be entirely at the mercy of the union. Me was one who preferred freedom of contract so far as engagement extends. The employers upheld and the union opposed the claim for exemption. The Commissioner decided not to strike out Mr Davidson from the list, but to explain to him that he would have an opportunity of applying to die Arbitration Court for exemption. CLASSIFICATION OF WORKERS. The union asked for the following classification of workers, viz., branch managers and manageresses, departmental managers and mam agercsses, window dressers, canvassers, seniors, juniors, apprentices,' storemen and packers, clerks and cashiers (including males and females). It was suggested by the cmplovers that the recommendation of the Conciliation Council in the Wellington dispute should be taken as a basis of discussion. This was agreed to, MiMartin intimating that there were many things in the Wellington award that did not satisfy the Christchurch Union. It was decided to adopt the Web lingfon definition of canvassers, seniors, juniors, and apprentices. It was agreed that employment should be upon a weekly basis, and that no deduction should be made from the weekly wages except for time lost through the worker's sickness or default. Also nothing in the award should be deemed to apply to lift attendants. HOLIDAYS, '.' : The question of holidays was discussed at length, the union asking for the following holidays: ; Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and the day following, Good Friday, Easier Saturday, Easter Monday, Anniversary Day, Labour Day, Union Picnic Day, Prince of Wales's' Birthday and the birthday of the reigning sovereign, the difference in holidays between the claims and the old award being the day following New Year, Easter Saturday, Union Picnic Day, and the Prince of Wales's Birthday. The clause was held over for further consideration, including a subclause in which the union asked for an annual holiday of two weeks on full pay in each year. The usual court's under-rate workers' clause was agreed 10, as was also the court preference clause now in the Canterbury award. It was agreed that first-class travelling fare should be allowed in cases where workers were transferred I from one town to another. That I four hours' notice should be given to all employees required to work overtime, or in lieu thereof 1/- tea money. PLACE OF ENGAGEMENT. The union asked for the inclusion of the following new clause:— When an employer wishes to obtain the services of a worker he shall in the first instance make an applilion lo the secretary of the union to supply him with the required worker, and if the union is not in a position lo supply his requirements within a reasonable or prescribed time the employer may engage any person whether a member of the union or otherwise. 'the employers' assessors said they were opposed to the clause. It would give the union too much power. The clause was held over. HOURS OF EMPLOYMENT; The present award contains no hours' clauses, and the hours of work for drapers' assistants are regulated by the Shops and Offices Act, which provides for 52 hour; per week. The union asked for the inclusion of the following clause:— The ordinary hours of employment shall be as follow:—Seniors and any person receiving in excess of the senior wage: From 9 a.m. to 12 noon or 1 p.m., and from 1 p.mj or 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., on live days of the week, and from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on the day of the weekly half-holiday. Juniors: From 8.30 a.m. lo 12 noon or 1 p.m., and from 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. on five days of the week, and from 8.30 a.m. lo 12 noon on the I day of the weekly half-holiday. Apprentices, storemen, or packers: From 8 a.m. lo 12 noon or 1 p.m., and from 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. on live days of the week, and from 8 a.m. to 12 noon on the day of the weekly half-holiday. All time worked before or after the lime mentioned in this clause shall be classified as overtime, anil be paid for at the rale of lime and a-half, provided that in no cn.se the rate of overtime payment be less than 9d per hour. The employers said that'they were unanimous in their determination to | oppose the clause. It was agreed lo | hold the clause over. ANNUAL HOLIDAY. The clause proposing an annual holiday for assistants wasirediscussed, Mr Martin urging that people who had to work ~,'l hours per week were entitled lo an annua! holiday. The employers were standing in their own light in not reducing the number of hours and thus make the trade more attractive. It was a fact ,11ml the long hours were a diseour--1 agemenl to boys and girls going to I the trade. The annual holiday would ibe some compensation. I The employers pointed out that no annual holiday was given in other trades.

The union proposed the following scale of wages:— (a) Branch manager or manageress £5 15/-. (hj) Departmental manager or manageress £o 10/-. .dc) Window dresser £5. *(d) Canvasser £4. (e) Senior (males) £4; (females) £2 10/-. (f) Assistants 1G years of age and undpr entering the trade without previous experience shall be paid not less than the rate of wages set out in the following scale, viz.:— Per Week.

STOBEMEN. (a) Mead storeman or only storeman, £8 10/-; storemen or packers, £3. The minimum wage paid to storemen or packers shall be those set out in the following scale, viz.:—

Mai es. Feiuali 'S. £ s. d. £ s. (i. First year of service . 0 15 0 0 15 (1 Second ye; ir of scrvJci • 1 2 0 1 n II Third yea r of service :>. 1 12 (i 1 5 0 Fourth ye; >r of service « 2 0 (i ! 10 0 Fifth.year of service . 2 10 0 1 15 0 Sixth year of service . 3 5 0 2 2 G Thereafter (for sen iors) . 4 0 0 2 10 (i

£ s. d. 10 ye; irs or under . 0 15 0 17 yc: ii'S or under .ion IS ye; irs or under .17 0 19 y« irs or under .. . (Proceeding). . 1 15 0