MILK TREATING PLANT PAY

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28270, 7 May 1957, Page 13

MILK TREATING PLANT PAY

Agreement On 7s 6d Rise

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 6. Milk treatment plant workers will receive a rise of 7s 6d a week in their basic pay rate under the terms of an agreement reached in conciliation council at the week-end before the Auckland Conciliation Commissioner. Mr C. L. Hunter, in Wellington. Conciliation lasted almost two days, and ended in agreement on all important issues. The meeting between the parties had earlier been broken off. against the wishes of the Dairy Workers’ Union assessors, and the union called for nation-wide direct action as a protest. Condemning the union’s action, the Minister of Labour (Mr J K. McAlpine) called the parties together again for conciliation proceedings to be resumed. Under the previous award, a service bonus of 5s a week was payable after 12 months* employment. This has now been written into the basic rate, so that in effect workers during their first year’s employment will enjoy a rise of 12s 6d a week. The former basic rate was £9 5s a week, and it is now £9 17s 6d in each case plus the 18 per cent, increase granted by the Court of Arbitration in the last general wage order. There is a new variation in the qualification for extra annual holidays. Under the old award, only shift workers and men with 10 years’ service were allowed three weeks’ leave a year. From now on, shift workers and those with five years’ service will be so privileged. The term of the award Is 18 months.