HOTEL TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1095, 6 April 1911, Page 2

HOTEL TRADE.

» . NEW AND PENDING AWARDS. The existing industrial position in (ho hotel unci allied trades, from the employees point of-view, and the leading features of la(« awards-wero outlined vesterdny by the secretary of tho Cooks' and Waiters' Union (Mr. E. J. Carey). Mr. Carey, who-has just returned from Dunedin, declares himself well satisfied with the licensed hotel agreement entered into with the hotelkospers in that town. It has been the custom in tho past, ho states* to award slightly lower rates of pay to hotel workers in Dunedin than obtain in Wellington. This feature existed in tho old Dunedin award. In tho new agreement wages aro in only one or two instances less than under the Wellington award, and in many cases they are higher. For instance, night porters will get 30s. per week in Dunedin, as against 275. 6d. in Wellington, and housemaids- 17s. Gd. per week, as against 16s. under tho Wellington award. The chief gain, however, is in the matter of-hours. The Wellington award provides for a 65 hour week for male and women workers. In Dunedin the hoars are in accord with the provisions of tho Shops and Offices Act, namely, 62 per week for men and 52 for women workers. In addition, so far as licensed houses aro concerned, a Sunday half-holiday once a month is granted, besides. tho statutory weekly half-holiday. A preference clause which provides that every employee must join the union after having been engaged for a fortnight is another big concession from the union point of view. The Dunedin employers, Mr. Carey stales, met the union very fairly, ■ and their attitude was in strong contrast to that of employers in Wellington, "whero tho union has had to fight' for every little advantage in tho Arbitration Court." As to restaurants anil tea-rooms, no agreement was arrived at in Dunedin. The union insisted on an increased wago for women workers. The employers were prepared to grant a good preference, and ono or two other minor concessions, but refused any increase in wages, and tho matter remains at that. There is a possibility, however, of another conference between the parties prior lo the hearing of the case before the Arbitration Court. Six private hotels were cited in connection with tho Dunedin Union's demands, and, after a day's deliberation, an agreement was arrived at which covers these establishments. The conditions obtained aro in all cases' equal, and in certain instances better than under the recent private hotel award in Wellington. Hours of work are G2 for men and 52 for women, and wages for waitresses are 2s. per week in excess of those paid in Wellington, while wages for housemaids aro Is. Gd. per week better than in Wellington. Tho preference clause is not so good as was obtained from the licensed hotelkeepers, but the secretary in Dunedin be- . lieves that ho will bu able to put it in full operation. The Canterbury and Auckland Unions will lie tho next to move for better conditions. The Canterbury licensed hotel award expires at the end of (his month, and already arrangements have been made for tho filing of new claims. Iu ~nd (ho licensed hotel award docs not expire for two years, but within a week or two a fresh award will be sought for tearooms, restaurants, and pn>. hotels in tho northern city. Tho arranging of tho various awards and claims of the unions, except in tho enso of the Canterbury Union, is governed bv the counsels of the Federation of Hotel-workers' Unions, which now has its headquarters in Auckland. A conference of tho Federation will bo held in July next, when consideration will ho given to further steps lo be taken for the 'improvement of (he conditions of employees in the trade.