DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 947, 14 October 1910, Page 6

DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

NEW AWARD. HIGHER PAY! SHORTER HOURS. The Court of Arbitration hafl issued it? award in the, dispute -between the Wellington Butter, Creamery, and Cheese Factories' Employees' Union and the employers. -'■■'.

The award,'which is to operate for three years from October 10, IDIO, makes the maximum working hours in cheese factories seventy per week of seven days, exclusive of meal hours. The hours,in butter, factories aTe not to exceed sixty per week of.soven days, exclusive of meal hours, from October 1 to March 31 inclusive, and fifty per Week from April 1 to September 30. The hours in creameries are to bo arranged between: each employer und his workers.

Overtime shall be paid at the rate of time and. a quarter for.the first four hours, and afterwards at time and a half. ;."■ '. ■■';:•:'

.'The minimum rates of. wages in butter and cheese factorjes shall be: One adult worker,' other than manager, minimum:of £3. 2s; .per week; two adult workers other tian-the manager, "-.first-assistant, minimum of £2 ss.;.three or.more assistants other than the . manager, first assistant, minimum of .£2 10s., second not less than '.£2 : 55.;. other hands, not including youths, £2 '2s. In all' these cases the , workers shall be provided free, with sleeping ac-, coinmodation. : Engine-drivers, where a. first-class certifi.cate. is required, shall, receive. ..£3.. per week.-.'': .-•■ ■•" :■ i"-':v : .

The "wages' of' creamery managers shall lie riot less 'than £2 ss. per week, .with: firewood, "milk, and suitable living .accommodation. Where any of,these extras are not supplied,:payment shall be m'ado in lieu thereof, tlie;amount to be settled by; agrceirient. between .the employer arid tlie worker;,and failing such agreement,by the local inspector of factories. I' ■ . Youtlis . over sixteen may be employed in factories at not less than the following .wages:—From 16 to 18 years, 20s. per week;lß to 20 years,.3os. ; .; ■•■ Every Worker of not'- less ' thau'.'.:eignt months' service shall ; be entitled to fourteen'' days' ; holiday oh full pay, and.;,"a •proportionate holiday, shall bo .allowed to workers, whose: service has been for .less thaneight months,, but not less' than twomonths. It.shall be optional with ,einployers;tp; give' workers.in cheese, tories one day "per; week, instead' of ,tlio yearly period, the aggregate, to be not less, than fourteen days. : ' : . •■•'•■/"-',' .:-., .' .:. . ■ Piece.-work shall not, be. allowed., ; A, bathroom for: workers shall be provided at.-all, butter and cheese' factories whereitwo or more workers are employed. Employers are entitled to .have--their' work:.done :by. coritractv .but upon ■ such terms that; workers ,• under contract shall receive.not !less: than .award rates, 'and other .conditions, of: the; award; must'bo, adhered to. ''• .'■;. ;:' .::::■.:' -". .'.ln- a memorandum' : . [attacked ■", to ■ the award, : .'the Court 'points out that the old award has. been'.: altered : as! follows:—The wages,bf creamery,, managers have 'been increased' from'.-G2 to,£2 s..per week.'.with firewood,- inilk, and,^living'accommodation free: , • ■ This! is the rate .fixed by agreement in.the -Taranaki district.': .The minimum wage for an adult, worker' has been iricreased.'f rom d£l 17s. Gd. '"to. ,£2 ,2s. per week. The 'tour's', in butter ! '.f actories,' have', been reduced to .sixty per .week in the'summer and,fifty in the ..winter.. They were! madethe:: same as fn cheese, factories 'by. : the; previous 'award:- ...The union lias' satisfied': the ...Court:, that there, are practically no .'.factories that' make .'both!: cheese■■'and butterbur one.sea«dn : ,-,'and;there; is, there-' fore,, no' necessity, for making ■ tlie'.;hours in- butter factories; -as .long.; as "those . : iri ctteese::fact6ries; -.'/"TTho.- hours inow fixed' will : enable:the work,in.a'butter factory to:be: overtaken .witbput,payment• of over.tinie:. The union failed to make out a''case for any changeVin:the ;libui's ! in 'cheese, and, these/have.been left,as fixaward: ."'.■'■'■' :.::.-.;;