CARPENTERS SEEK WAGE INCREASE

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 May 1948, Page 5

CARPENTERS SEEK WAGE INCREASE

APPLICATION TO COURT OF ARBITRATION (P.A.) Wellington, May 3. An application for an increase of lj.d hourly in wage rates paia to workers of the New Zeaalnd (except Otago and Southland) Carpenters and Joiners and Joiners’ Machinists Union was heard by the Arbitration Court. During the hearing the union representative, Mr. Stanley, said 80 per cent, of the union members were already enjoying the increase The union claimed a minimum wage of 3s Sid an hour for workers covered by the award. Grounds for the application were to restore or preserve the relationship existing as in March or April, 1945, between the union's award and other awards applying to the building industry. "Owing to the method the Court has adopted in amending various building trade awards, anomalies have been created in wage rates,” said MY. Stanley. "These anomalies exist as between the -carpenters and joiners’ award on one hand and with the plumbers and gasfitters’ award and the plasterers, fibrous plasterers and tilelayers’ award on the other hand.’’ Although the three classes of workers were on the same wage rate in March or April, 1945, by the end wf Senterr.ber. 1947 the relationshio be-

tween fibrous plasterers and carpenters anr joiners had been disturbed in that the former’s hourly wage rate had been increased by 2id an hour, but the increase for the latter had been IJd. Similarly, the relationshm between carpenters and joiners and plumbers and gaslitters had not been preserved. The employers’ representative, Mr. J. R. Hanlon, said that granting of the application would have the effect of nullifying the Court's standard wage announcement of 1947. The Court should not lie limited to consideration of awards applying only to the building industry. It was entitled to consider the various awards which made provision for tradesmen. “There is a vital difference between the abilities of some of the trade.men for whom a higher rate than 3s 7d had been fixed ana of those who can qualify for payment as ca/penters.” said Mr. Hanlon. “Any able-bodied person able to use a saw and hammer may, if he obtains employment as a carpenter, demand at the tradesmen’s rate. An increase in wages in this industry would be followed by applications, not only from other skilled workers but from semi-skilled and unskilled workers.” After submissions had been heard, Mr. Stanley asked that the Court’s decision be made available by May 14. Deputy Judge Dalglish said he could not promise the Court’s decision by that date, but added it would not be lone delayed.