CARPENTERS SEEK NEW AWARD

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22513, 22 September 1938, Page 8

CARPENTERS SEEK NEW AWARD

LITTLE PROGRESS MADE IN CONCILIATION.

DISCUSSION ON METHOD OF PAYING WAGES

O’Bsas as»ociatio» tzleokau.)

WELLINGTON, September 21. Little progress toward an agreement having been made in a day’s discussion of the Dominion carpenters’, joiners’, and joiners’ machinists’ dispute. a Conciliation Council considering the dispute adjourned to-day until to-morrow, the workers’ representatives being urged by the employers’, representatives 1 and • the 'Conciliation Commissioner'to confer during, the night and return to-morrow morning with- claims nearer the existing award than those which the council had been discussing. The method of paying wages on an hourly basis instead of. a. weekly one was blamed by workers’ - assessors as one of the reasons for a shortage of tradesmen in the Dominion. The union asked for payment .on,a weekly basis, and also that workers employed less than 52 weeks be classed as casuals at an hourly rate threepence* higher than permanents. Mr W. J. Mountjoy, for the employers, said that the employers had discussed the principle of a weekly wage earlier and were opposed to it. Builders could not make provision in tenders for payment for time lost through wet weather. The Arbitration Court, in fixing skilled rates, made allowance for broken time.

Mr R. Stanley, an Auckland workers’ representative, ’ said that hundreds of men had left the trade and taken up other work. because by that step they had some measure of economic security. In one organisation, in ..the Dominion there were -200 carpenters not now working at their trade. Mr H. J. Bishop, representing all the employers- not in the trade, said that these were inclined to favour a weekly basis of payment where it was possible -without payment for lost time. They, would consider a weekly wage in terms of the Arbitration Court order. Wages Offer

A 40-hour five-day week was sought, with, a wage demand of £6 a week, plus Ss a .week tool allowance. The employers offer 2s 8d an hour, with three-farthings an hour tool money.

. Conditions and clauses proposed by the workers were discussed throughout the day without a decision being reached on many. “This is the worst day’s work I have done,” said the Commissioner, Mr M. J. Reardon, when the council was about to adjourn. “Unless there is some compromise to-morrow, we-are only wasting our energies in going further. The dispute _ certainly will be thrust back to conciliation later. It seems. to me, with all due respect to the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters, that they are putting out some propaganda that has nothing to do with the award at all. He thought they would be wise to revise their claims overnight. Mr Mounfjoy said the workers would wisest to wipe the slate clean. A remark-that the employers’ representatives should consider overnight bringing forward a more reasonable wages claim reopened the discussion on wages. The Commissioner said probably the employers should say, at that stage, what the most they could give would be. , Several speakers on the employers’ side said they would not increase wages. They had the support of their associations, and they believed that wages should be increased by the Court, and not by a Conciliation; Council. If an increase were to be given, the Court would have to do it.