WAGES REDUCTIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 244, 15 October 1932, Page 8

WAGES REDUCTIONS

THE FREEZING INDUSTRY I EMPLOYERS UNANIMOUS NEW OFFER REVIEWED. WELLINGTON, Oct. 14. New wages rates and conditions [under which New Zealand freezing | workers will be offered employment jafter October 17 are outlined and commented upon in a statement issued on behalf of employers in the freezing industry. It is said that the average ■ wages reduction is between 10 per cent, j and 11 per cent. “In connection with the freezing workers’ award, meetings have been held in all industrial districts with the object of arriving at a settlement of the new terms and conditions for the forthcoming season.” the statement begins. “These meetings have not produced any agreement and the award automatically expired in the Wellington industrial district on October 1. 1932. “Employers through the IDominion arc at one in regard to the terms and conditions which should apply as from the beginning of the new season and have now made them public. It may be said that they have slightly modified their wage proposals since the last meeting with the unions and have met some of the objections raised by the unions in regard to proposed conditions. “The new terms and conditions will come into operation throughout the North Island on October 17; in Canterbury, Otago and Southland no No veinher 1; and at most works and in Marlborough about November 10. ‘lt is difficult to state exactly the average percentage reduction in wages proposed, but it is, calculated to be somewhere in the vicinity of from 10 per cent, to 11 per cent. Tn the case of the more highly paid men the percentage reduction is more; in the case of the lower paid worker, less. For example. it is proposed to pay slaughtermen 30s a hundred for sheep and 27s a hundred for lambs. This is a reduction of from 164 to 20 per cent. Tn the case of slaughterhouse assistants it is proposed to reduce the hourly rate from Is 10|d to Is 93d. a reduction of less than 34 per cent.; freezers from 2s 04d to Is 104 d. a reduction of 74 per cent.; and general hands from Is lOld to Is I9d. a reduction of 64 per cent. “Provision has been made for hourly workers for overtime rates to be paid for all time worked in excess of eight hours between 7.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on five days of the week and four hours between 7.30 a.m. and 12 noon on Saturdays. on the basis of time and a quarter for the first two hours and time and a-half thereafter. “Under the new conditions it is estimated. that when working full time slaughtermen will be able to earn from 27s to 30s a day. pullers from 28s to 35s a day. slaughterhouse assistants 14s 6d a day plus overtime, general hands 14s a day plus overtime, and freezers rather more.

“As regards the genera] conditions, very few important alterations have been made: the conditions, however, have been redrafted and it is believed are now in a much lore simple form than previ'-uric.