CLAIMS OUTLINED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 279, 25 November 1936, Page 8

CLAIMS OUTLINED

OFFICE WORKERS WAGES, HOURS. CONDITIONS DISPUTE BEFORE COURT [ Per Press Association. J WELLINGTON, Nov. 2-1. | Evidence and argument on wages. | hours and conditions of work that should be awarded clerks, typists and other office workers were heard to- ! day when the Wellington Clerical Workers' dispute (general section) came before the Arbitration Court. The dispute was the first covering the occupation ever to come before the Court. Decision was reserved in the section of the dispute covering manufacturers’ offices and comes before the Court to-morrow morning. The main.points j remaining in the dispute upon which the Court has to adjudicate are: “Weekly hours, the workers desiring 38 and the employers 44; wages, the workers submitting a scale based on both length of service and experience, and the employers suggesting that length of service only should he the basis; proportion of juniors to adults; annual holiday, the workers claiming two weeks and the employers counter-claiming one week; sick pay, which employers do not want to be compelled to pay. There is a difference about daily hours also. The workers have claimed a uniform daily period for fll offices, but the employers desire- variations tc be made to suit, various offices without, hours

after 5 p.m. being counted overtime. Advocates are to confer on this point, however. Mr A. W. Croskery appeared for the workers and Mr. W. J. Mountjoy for the employers. The Union proposed the following scale of wages:—Males: First six months £1 ss, second £1 9s, third £1 13s, fourth £1 17s, fifth £2 ss, sixth £2 10s, fourth year (age 19-21 years) £2 17s 6d, fifth £3 ss, sixth £4, seventh £4 7s 6d, eighth £4 15s, ninth £5 2s 3d, tenth £5 10s. Females: First six months £1 ss, second £1 9s, third £1 13s, fourth £1 17s, fifth £2 ss, sixth £2 10s, fourth year (age 19-20 years) £2 17s 6d, fifth year £3 ss, sixth year £3 10s, seventh £3 15s. Variations would be made in these figures according to the employee’s experience. The employers’ counter-proposals on wages suggested the following payments per week:—Female and junior male workers: First six months 15s, second 19s. third £1 3s, fourth £1 7s, fifth £1 11s, sixth £1 15s, fourth year £2s, thereafter (except males) £2 ss. Male clerks after having served four years would be paid in the following (fifth) year £2 10s, the sixth £3, the seventh £3 10s, the eighth £4, and thereafter £4 10s.