FREEZING DISPUTE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 290, 8 December 1932, Page 8

FREEZING DISPUTE

AGREEMENT at patea WAGES AND HOURS OF WORK. A new agreement has been reached at the Conciliatiou Council in connec tion with the work at the Patea Freezing Works between the Freezing Workers’ Union and the Patea Farmers Co-operative Freezing Works Company Limited. The agreement carne into force on December 2, and is to remain in force until further notice. The principal provisions are those relating to hours of work aud rates of pay. Hours of work for slaughtermen have been fixed at eight per day at ordinary rates of pay. In the case of shift workers the hours may be tny consecutive eight hours in the 24, and for all other hourly workers any eight hours between 7.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on five days a week and four hours between 7.30 a.in. and noon on Saturdays. For freezing chamber hands the hours are to be eight hours per days at any time in the 24 hours, reckoning from midnight to midnight. Overtime Rates. Overtime is to be paid, for all lime in excess of eight hours in each 24 hours, provided that, if men are required to work overtime between the hours of 11. p.m. and 6.30 a.m. they shall receive 5d per hour extra. If a worker is doing overtime at midnight, and is required to go on. that overtime shall continue as if the time worked had been all on the one day. If a worker works overtime on any day and is required to work on the following day he shall be paid at overtime rates for all time worked until he has had a break of at least one hour for each two hours worked. One hour is to be allowed for meal-time, and when working overtime the mealtimes shall be at intervals of not more than five hours. Provision is made for “smoke-oh” time, and in the event of “waitingtime’’ being a necessity, it is to be pain for at the rate of Is 9d per hour. The rates of pay for slaughtermen range from 27s to 35s per 100 for sheep; Is 9d to 2s 4d per head fo r cattle: Is to Is 6d for calves; lid to Is 5d for pigs; and the ruling of the foreman butcher as to the description of any class or stock is to be final. Provision is also made for slaughtering by competent team workers at 2s Cd per hour. Various Departments. Wages are also fixed for the other workers in the various department?, including slaughtering and coolingroom hands, fell mongers, pelt work ers, preserving, and manure and tai low workers. Engine-room hands (greasers and. firemen) receive 14s per watch and are required to work seven watches per week without extra pay for work on Sunday or holidays, but in such cas they receive 6d per hour extra for the seventh watch.

Provision is made for the employment of boys and youths in the proportion of one to every three men employed, and the rates of pay are fixed as follows:

Under 16 years, £1 per week; 1617, £l. ss; 17-18, £1 15s; 18-19. £2 7s 6d; 19-20, £2 15s. In the case of a youth reaching 20 years of age during a esason his wages are to continue at £2 15s per week throughout the remainder of the season. Provision is also made for contract work and the agreement also defines slaughtering work. The agreement is for the current slaughtering season, and is to remain in force till further notice.