SIX-DAY WEEK FOR BAKERS

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 November 1946, Page 5

SIX-DAY WEEK FOR BAKERS

THE COURTS RULING P.A.) Wellington, Oct. 31. Provision for a six-days-a-week baking is contained in the National Bakers and Pastrycooks award, issued by the Arbitration Court. The Court in a majority judgment, upholds the employers claim that it is not possible, with the present facilities, to bake enough bread for the people’s requirements within the limits of a five-day-week, and an eight-hour day. This decision recalls the dispute that arose some months ago when the Baking Trade's Employees Union refused to work on more than file days a week. A strike on the issue occurred In Auckland. Since that time the industry generally has operated on a five-day week basis, with long hours on one day to prepare the week-end supply. The award is to operate from November 11. The Court in its majority judgment, from which Mr. A. L. Monteith, employees’ representative totally dissents, said:

"Strong evidence given by the employers showed that it was not possible, with the present facilities at the disposal of the industry, to bake neiu'ly enough bread for the requirements of the people within the lifnits

of a five-day week (Monday to Friday), and an eight-hour day, having regard to the necessity for baking additional quantities to meet the weekend demand. One witness estimated the weekly deficiency would amount to 20 per cent, of the total requirements.

The Court said the judgment considered the application of the five-day week to the industry in 1936, and at that time ruled that bread baking was an industry in which, to meet the public’s requirements, work must be carried out on six days of the week. In 1938 the Court was called on to fix the hours of work for bakers and pastrycooks, and decided that on one day of the week it was necessary to allow 10 hours to be worked without the payment of overtime. The employers considered that such a provision was still necessary, but the Legislature had now incorporated into the Factories Act a provision that the dally hours should not exceed eight. There were now no powers vested In the Court under which this figure could be increased to meet the special circumstances of any particular industry carried on in factories. On the evidence before it the judgment said the Court could not escape the conclusion that If work was limited to a maximum of eight ifours a day on five days a week, Monday to Friday, inclusive, adequate supplies of bread would not be available for people of the Dominion. The Court had, therefore, decided that the hours of work should be in accordance with the provisions of the Factories Act.