FARMERS AND WORKERS FAIL TO AGREE ON WAGES INCREASE

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 September 1950, Page 5

FARMERS AND WORKERS FAIL TO AGREE ON WAGES INCREASE

WELLINGTON, Last Night (PA). —Federated Farmers and the New Zealand Workers’ Union have failed to agree on the application of an interim wage increase to agricultural workers.

The wages of agricultural workers are fixed by the Minister of Laboui after negotiation between the parties and the wages of dairy farm workers are fixed in the same manner. In the new season’s guaranteed price provision is made for an additional farm labour reward as from May 1,1950, on the basis of the 7s a week which the Court granted to adult male workers under awards as from May 6. The additional dairy payout was fixed as from May 1 lor thee onvemence ot calculation. , Federated Farmers and Workers Unio n representatives met this week to discuss, in the first instance, agricultural workers’ wages. Federated Farmers claimed that where workers were found by their employers, they should receive only 2s a week increase in cash, the remaining 5s to be regarded as additional cost io the employer for keeping them. This apportionment was not acceptable to the union, and the parties will ask the Court of Arbitration to make a recommendation to the Minister.