SADDLERS' DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1745, 9 May 1913, Page 3

SADDLERS' DISPUTE.

AGREEMENT ARRIVED AT. The Conciliation Court sat all day on AVednesdav in connection with the dispute between the Wellington Saddlers' Industrial Uuiou of Workers and W. Wiggins and others, employers, of Wellington. Mr. P. Halley (Conciliation Commissioner) presided, and after the union's demands and tho employers' counter-proposals had been fully discussed, an agreement was arrived at. It was decided that tho hours of work bo 48 per week. The question of overtimo was fixed on the same lines as tho old award, namely, time and a quarter for tlio first four liours. The classes of workers are to be tho samo as prescribed in tho lost award, with tho exception that female machinists aro now included. Wages were fixed at the rate of Is. 2d. per hour for journeymen, the piecework log is being arranged, and tho clause .dealing with undev-rate workers submitted by tlio union was agreed to. The clause in respect to apprentices was agreed to, villi the exception of a slight alteration in -regard to wages—slight increases in the earlier stages of apprenticeship. A new clause lias been added making it necessary for an apprentioc to fill in tho whole of his time at the trade. Female workers (machinists) will now receive X 2 per week, during the last six weeks of their fifth year at tho trade. An "improvers clause lias been added. Tho improver will recieivo £2 per week for tho first six months of his last year of apprenticeship and .£2 ss. per week for the next six months of the year. Where only ono apprentico is kept, an additional apprentice riiay bo taken on after three years of tho original apprentice's term has been completed. Tho holidays,are to remain as in tho previous award, with tho exception of tlie Prince of Wales's Birthday, which has been deleted. The preference clause provides that an employer _ can employ any person, whether unionist or nonunionist. If the person engaged should be a non-unionist, then such person must be requested to join tlio union by the secretary, and should, he fail within 1~ days of receiving notice, he is deemed to liavo committed a breach of the award. The employers are under no circumstances to .be held liable for any broach of the preference clause. A clanso has been added by which workers, whilst m constant employment, will be debarred from doing work outside their employers business for tho purpose ot tlie trade, except in tlio case of a worker who is physicalls unfit to attend bis employer s place ot business. In sucli case he. may get* a permit to work in his own home. , The question as to whether the award should be made for two or three years bas been left for tho Court to arrange. Before tlie matter is sent to tho Court, an opportunity will bo given country employers to discuss tho proposals, and a meeting for that purpose is fixed at I aimerston North for Jlay 21.