NEW RATES OF PAY APPROVED FOR SHEARERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 40, 19 September 1949, Page 5

NEW RATES OF PAY APPROVED FOR SHEARERS

Recommendations of a special committee set up to consider the rates of pay for sheep shearers and shed hands for the coming season have been approved by the Government and will probably be adopted before long, according to advice received by the provincial secretary of Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers.

The committee, which consisted of a representative of the Government, the Employers’ Union and the Shearers’ Union recommended the following rates of pay: for shearing lambs and sheep by machines, not less than £2 6s 6d per hundred; for shearing by hand, not less than £2 9s per hundred (rations to be provided in both cases). Additional Allowance In those case where shearers find themselves in rations, an additional alowance of six shillings per day is payable. This will be paid for all days, inclusive of Sundays and wet days from the commencement of the shed until the cut out, but the clause contains a proviso that in cases where employees take alternate work for another employer, whilst engaged in shearing, the allowance shall not be paid. The rate for shearing stud sheep and hogget rams, is to be one and a half times the ordinary rate, and for other rams, at double that rate. Shearers of double-fleeced sheep and rams castrated after maturity are to be paid at rate and a half. Minimum rates of pay for shed hands are fixed as follows: Pressers, 3s 9id an hour; shed hands, 3s 7ld per hour; cooks (for 12 persons or under), £8 10s 4d per week or £1 7s 3d a day. Where the cook is cooking for more than 12 persons, the award provides for an addU tional payment of three shillings per week for each person over one dozen; where the number exceeds eighteen, for the employment of an assistant, and where more than 28 persons have to be cooked for, the rate is to be by mutual arrangement: cooks assistants, £6 14s 5d a week or £1 Is 6d a day. Nations To Be Provided

In all cases rations are to be provided by the employer, or alternatively, an extra six shillings in lieu of rations for all days, as provided for in the award for shearers. Provision is also made for a presser to work at piece-work rates as agreed to by his employer, provided that his earnings under such an arrangement, shall not be less than the minimum hourly rate specified for the time actually worked by the presser.