THE BAKERS’ DISPUTE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1274, 13 March 1918, Page 8

THE BAKERS’ DISPUTE.

COMPETITION OF TEA ROOMS. CONCILIATION COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS. The adjourned hearing of the dispute between the Canterbury Bakers’ and Pastrycooks’ Union and the employers was resumed this morning. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr AY. H. Hagger) presided, and the assessors were: For the union, Messrs H. Chillingworth, C. Campbell, and H. McAllister; for the employers, Messrs C. E. Boon, W. M. Hawkin, and H. Bruce. The Council had divided at the previous silting on the question of wages. The union asked for journeymen bakers a wage of £4 per week, and £1 10/- for foremen, as against £il per week now paid to journeymen and £3 10/- to foremen. The question of holidays also remained in dispute. The position at present is that in return for an hour’s work on Sundays at sponging, the men get a week’s holiday each year on full pay* The employers point out, however, that under the existing arrangement the employer employing six men must give six weeks’ holiday and pay six weeks’ wages, while the irtan employing one worker got his sponging done for one week’s wages. Mr Broadhcad made application for the exemption of Messrs Bealii and Co. and the D.I.C. These firms were covered by the restaurant and tea rooms awards. Mr Bruce pointed out that the firms sold goods for consumption off the premises. Mr Wilson said that if the Arms were in competition with the bakers and pastrycooks they should pay the same wages. Mr Broadhcad said that the firms could not work under two awards. Mr Bruce said that the drapers were seeking a monopoly of the tea room business, and were paying less wages than the legitimate linkers. The latter paid £4 a week wages, where the drapers paid 30/-. The Commissioner said that the firms making the application were not joined under the tea rooms award. They merely claimed to come under it. The application was refused, it being left open to Mr Broadhcad to appeal to the Court if he so desired. On the question of wages Mr Bruce said that it was not fair to take the Wellington rates as a basis for the new award. In Wellington business was going forward. In the south it was going back. Mr Wilson produced a copy of the latest Gisborne agreement, under which the wages paid were substantially the same as those now demanded by the union. After considerable negotiation between the Commissioner and the parties, it was agreed that the wages for a journeyman baker or pastrycook should be £3 10/- per week, and for a foreman baker or pastrycook £4 tier week; also that jobbers be paid 13/0 per day, or if employed for less than eight hours 2/- per hour. The overtime clause provides for time and a-quarter for the first four hours, and double time up to 0 p.m., when work shall cease. Double time shall be paid for work on Good Friday, Sundays, Christmas Day, and time and a-half for all other holidays. For breadbakers, sponging and doughing on Sundays are to cover payment for all holidays. Pastrycooks are to be paid for Sunday and holiday sponging at the rate of double time, a minimum of one hour to be paid for. On ordinary holidays time worked shall be paid for at the rate of time and a-half. Holidays not worked shall not be paid for.