FREEZING DISPUTE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2144, 29 December 1920, Page 9

FREEZING DISPUTE.

DOMINION SETTLEMENT.

NET INCREASES OF 12* AND 15 v PER CENT. > The dispute between the New Zealand Freezing Workers' Federation and the associated freezing companies has been settled. Mr F. C. Ellis, secretary of the Canterbury Freezing Workers' Union, who attended the two conferences between the parties, has received full details of the settlement from Mr E. Niall, secretary of the federation. Both the conferences, of which the second closed a fortnight ago, resulted in a deadlock over the wages to be paid to workers on hourly and weekly rates. The companies offered increases of 20 per cent, to pieceworkers and 22} per cent, to houriy and weeMly workers, the. percentages being taken upon the rates agreed to in April, 1919. The federation agreed to accept the 20 per cent, for pieceworkers, but demanded at least 2/3 per hour for the lowest-paid worker, with higher rates for skilled and semi-skilled hands. A settlement has now been arrived at on a basis of 20 per cent more for pieces, workers and 25 per cent, more for hourly and weekly workers. The following is a comparison between the 1919 rate and the new rate:— April, Nov., 1919. 1920. Slaughtermen— Sheep, per 100 35/- 42/Lambs, per 100 32/6 39/Cattle, per head 2/3 2/8) Skin pullers .. 71<1 and 84<1 BJd and IOJd Freezing chamber hands, curers, and pelt classers 1/11 2/4} Second preserver, skin-washers, & trimmers .. 1/91 ' 2/3 All other workers 1/9 • 2/2J Qf the increase, 7} per cent, for pieceworkers and 10 per cent, for hourly and weekly workers was granted last February, so that the new increase represents 12} per cent, for pieceworkers and 15 per cent, for hourly and weekly workers, above the rate now paid. Overtime is to be paid on the full wage, and not on the basic, wage alone. • The new rates are retrospective to November 1. . .