CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16153, 6 March 1918, Page 3

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

« GROCERY TRADE DISPUTE. The Conciliation Council sat in the Government Buildings yesterday, to hear, a dispute between the North Canterbury Grocers' Assistants' Union against a number oi' the employers. Mr W. H. Hagger, Conciliation Commissioner, presided, while the assessors wore: For the workers, Messrs G. Manning, T. H. Butterfield, and W. J. Green, and for the employers, Messrs H. Broadhead, T>. Heberfield, W. Wardcll, and C. F. Sneyd. Mr E. J. - Howard, secretaiy of the Workers' Union, also attended. The Union asked for a week of 47 hours, instead of 52 as at present, and ■ for the following increases in weekiy wages:— Present Fresh rate, award, s. d. s. Fifteen to sixteen years of age ... ... 10 0 15 Sixteen to seventeen ... 15 . 0 A) Seventeen to eighteen ... 22 <i 30 Eighteen to nineteen ... IJO 0 40 Nineteen to twenty ... 40 0 50 Twenty to twenty-one ... 47 6 00 Over 21yrs. Twenty-one to twentytwo ... ... 02 6 75 Over twenty-two ... 57 6 The employers offered a bonus of 10 per cent, on the present wages, during the war, and for six months afterwards, and asked that girls sixteen years of age and under entering the trade without previous experience might be employed in the grocery department at not less than the following rates: — a. d. First year of service ... ... 10 0 Second year of service -. 12 (i Third year of service ... ... 15 0 Fourth year of service ... 20 0 Fifth year of sen-ice ... ••• 25 0 Sixth year of service ... 27 (3 Over six years of service 35 0 Mr Broadhead ciplainpd that the employers' offer, was made on condition that the union agreed to accept the terms in the present award. The proposal was reasonable, as the 10 per cent, would mean that wages would have been increased 25 per cent, sincc the outbreak of war. The offer represented the employers' final decision. Mr Howard said that if that were so. there could be no question of conciliation • Mr Wardt'll- held that the employers' attitude was conciliatory, as they had come before the Council -with an offer, and the v wanted to know what was the attitude of the workers in the matter. Mr Heberfield said the employers' attitude was quite fair, and that their offer was made in a reasonable spirit. Few grocers worked' on the minimum wage, which, was not necessarily . the maximum. Competent men, he hold, were being penalised on account of the large, number of incompetent men in the business. Mr Wardcll said the whole day could not be wasted in discussing these points, and suggested thai the assessors should all go home. The employers would not alter the old award except in the matter of the bonus and the employment of female- assistants. They might as well go at once to the Arbitration Court, which would probably acccpt the employers' offer. A conference, lasting an hour and a half, then ensued between the employers' assessors. When the Council resumed the Commissioner stated that no satisfactory progress had been made. The workers' assessors had asked for an adjournment in order to consult the union, while the employers' assessors wished to confer with other shopkeepers. ■ The Council then adjourned until 10.30 a.m. this morning.