CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1922, Page 6

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

BAKERS’ AND PASTRYCOOKS’ DISPUTE. SITTING ADJOURNED. The Conciliation Council continued its sitting at the Courthouse. New Plymouth, yesterday, when the dispute filed by the Taranaki Operative Bakers’ and Pastrycooks’ Union was taken, Messrs. Lind and Newall, of Awatuna East, and others being cited as respondents. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. P. Hailey) presided, and the employers’ assessors were Messrs. E. May, J. Somerton and G. H. Gallagher. Mr. W. Dustin, of Wanganui, appeared as a representative of the United Master Bakers’ Association of New Zealand, and Mr. T. Hughes appeared for the Union. UNION’S DEMANDS. The hours of work asked for were an eight hour day for five days in the week, and four hours on Saturday; no work to start before 8 a.m. on any day except in the event of a double day when work might commence at i a.m., and, in the, case of a treble, holiday, a*t 6 a.m. A journeyman employed to make dough by machinery or hand might start earlier than the above hours, in which case he was to be paid 20 shillings per week in. addition to the minimum rates of pay. The wages sought were £6 per week for a foreman baker or pastrycook, £5 10s for a journeyman; and £5 for laborers. Conditions were inserted as to the employment of laborers and the classification of an employer substantially employed in his own bakehouse. For jobbers, pay at the rate of 20s per eight hour day was asked, with a minimum of a half a day’s wage and 3s 6d per hour if he were employed for less than eight hours. Pay for necessary expenses incurred in going to and leaving from work was also sought for these hands.

Overtime was to be limited to not more than three hours per week, and was to be paid for at the following rates, viz., foremen. 5s sd; journeymen, ss; laborers, 4s 6d; and apprentices, double time. Sunday and holiday sponging or doughing would entitle the employee to double time rates. The claim defined an “ovensman.” and asked for 5s per week for him in addition to journeyman rates.

New Year’s Day and the day following, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labor Day. Anzac Day. Sovereign’s Birthday. Christmas Day. Boxing Day. Anniversary Day. and the Union Picnic Day were asked as holidays, with double time rates in addition to the weekly wage for any work done on these days or on Sundays. The employers were to have the option of granting two ordinary days as a holiday in lieu of any of the above except Good Friday, Labor Day. and Christmas Day. In addition, an annual holiday of twelve working days was claimed, with pay in proportion in lieu thereof for any worker who did not complete a year of service. Apprentices were to be limited to one to two journeymen and were to be paid £1 10s per week for the first six months; £1 12s 6d for the second six months; £2 for the third; £2 2s 6d for the fourth. £2 5s for the fifth; £2 10s for the sixth: £3 for the seventh: and £3 5s for the eighth period. Clauses were inserted governing the lodging, training, and transfer of apprentices. Various clauses dealing with meal 'hours, termination of engagement, un-der-rate workers, preference, unskilled work, etc., were also inserted in the claim. The term of the award was to be for one year. MASTERS’ PROPOSALS. The masters submitted as counter proposals the existing award with a. reduction of five shillings per week in the case of foremen, journeymen, and laborers, making their wages £4 19s, £4 9s, and £3 19s respectively. COUNCIL’S DECISION. As was the case on Tuesday, the dispute was heard in committee, the Commissioner afterwards making a statement to the Press. Mr. Hally said that the meeting had been adjourned until after the Court of Arbitration had given fin award in this particular industry in Wellington. This award was expected in a month or six weeks’ time, and immediately following the announcement by the Court, a meeting would be held in this district to make the award apply-