"BIDDING UP” WAGES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18019, 6 November 1920, Page 4

"BIDDING UP” WAGES.

CARPENTERS’ AND BRICKLAYERS’ PRACTICE. BUILDERS FIX A MAXIMUM. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Nov. 5. The practice of “bidding up” the wages of carpenters by private bargaining with contractors has been exercising the builders of Auckland for sometime past, and has resulted in members of the Auckland Builders’ Association having agreed on a scale of maximum wages for carpenters, bricklayers, and plasterers. At a meeting of the association some time ago members reported that they were being pestered by continual applications for increased wages by men who stated that some other builder was paying more, and in the course of discussion on the subject of wages the opinion was expressed that some workers were systematically “bidding up" one employer against the other. The association decided to send out voting papers to all members on the subject of agreeing on a maximum wage, these papers being returnable for a special meeting to be held on November 4th. When the special meet ing was held last night there was a fecord attendance of members, and a cdunt of voting papers resulted in a unanimous vote in favour of a maximum wage. The meeting discussed the question and unanimously decided to fix the maximum wage of 2/9 per hour for carpenters and joiners, and 3/- per flour- for bricklayers and plasterers. All the members present, agreed not to pay more than this maximum and to bring the new rule into force on November 12. It was made clear during the discussion that this maximum refers only to the best men, exclusive of foremen. The present award rates including the latest’9/- cost of living bonus, are 2/s%\for carpenters and joiners, 2/7 for bricklayers and plasters, and 2/0 Vz f° r labourers. At the moment men are being paid 3/- per hour, and others are asking 3/3. According to reports similar action is contemplated amongst the builders in< Wellington and other districts.