SHOP ASSISTANTS’ DISPUTE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23975, 16 June 1943, Page 4

SHOP ASSISTANTS’ DISPUTE

CLAIMS FOR SHORTER HOURS AND MORE PAY A Conciliation Council met yesterday to inquire into the dispute by the employers and workers of the Canterbury Amalgamated Shop Assistants’ and Related Trades (other than grocers’, hairdressers’, and tobacconists’ assistants) Industrial Union of Workers, when it was stated that for the first time in New Zealand an award for assistants working in fruit, vegetable, cake, dairy, and confectionery shops had been sought, though an award existed in Auckland for fruit shop assistants. At present the employees In these shops were operating under the Shops and Offices Act. It was decided to adjourn the council to enable those concerned to hear the report of their assessors and to consider further any possibilities of settlement. Employees asked in their claims for a 40-hour week to be worked on five days each week, and that not more than seven and a half hours should be worked on each of four days every week from 8.30 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.. and that hours on one day of the week should be between 8.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. Wages claimed ranged from 25s (under 18s years) to £5 10s (over 21 years) for males, and for females from '!ss to £3 10s a week. In addition to ordinary holidays the workers in their claims asked tor three extra public holidays, Easter Saturday, Anniversary Day. and the day following New Year’s Day, making U public holidays in all, and in iddition an annual holiday of two weeks. The employers submitted counter proposals requesting a 44-hour week, offering wages considerably lower than those asked for by employees, and offering one week’s annual holiday. Mr S. Ritchie. Conciliation Commissioner. presided, and Messrs H. F. Rutland 'agent), E. Guthrie, R. Hllder, and C. H. J. Schraeder (TTmaru) were assessors for the employers: Messrs P. M. Velvin (agent), and G. W. Robertson, and Mrs I. M. Mathison were assessors lor the employees.