SHOP ASSISTANTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12636, 22 May 1919, Page 5

SHOP ASSISTANTS.

BOOT SHOP EMPLOYEES. The Conciliation Council this morning considered a dispute between the Christchurch Shop Assistants in the Boot, Hardware, Stationery, Fancy Goods, Furniture and Softgoods Trades Union and bootshop proprietors. Mr W. H. Hagger (Conciliation Commissioner) presided. Messrs R. D. Martin, A. Greenwood and J. Benges represented the employees, and Messrs F. Cooper, F. T. Paimell, A. H. Hobbs and C. E. Good the employers. The employees made tho same claims as in their dispute with the softgoods employers and the retail hardware employers. The employers in this Case submitted as counter-claims the wages and conditions in the present Softgoods trade; the wages are much lower than those claimed by the employees, and the hours aro shorter. ; Air Hobbs said that the Government might fix the prices of all boots soon, and the profits would he limited. Tile fresh prices'T'a'd been fixed without consideration' of probable increases in wa^csThe employees’ assessors said that they could hot agree to accept the wages diapers might accept Until they know wliht those wivges were. Consideration of wages was deferred. It. was agreed that casual males Should receive Is lOd att hour and casual females Is 3d, and that a senior should be defined as an assistant with six_ years’ experience, a, junior as an assistant with < more than four years and less than six years, and an apprentice an assistant with more than four years. Air Martin strongly urged that shops should, close usually at 5.30 p-m. on ordinary days. It was agreed that the hours should be from 8 n-m. to 5.30 p.m. on four days, from 8 a.m- to B p.m. on one day. and from 8 a.m. to 1 pun. on the-half-holiday, this, however, to be subject to other trades mentioned in the union’s title coming into that arrangement. The following holidays were agreed to Christmas Day. Boxing Day. New Year's Day, -January 2, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday, Good Friday, Labour Day. and the birthday or the feigning sovereign, if .other trades in the. dispute agree to substitute Eaftter Saturday for Anniversary Day. It was agreed that tho proportion of apprentices and improvers to assistants should he not more than one apprentice or improver to two assistants. Consideration of other points was deferred. (Proc-eMing.)