HAIRDRESSERS' DEMANDS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1810, 24 July 1913, Page 6

HAIRDRESSERS' DEMANDS.

■ TO BE RESISTED; It is understood that the demands ofl the newly-formed Hairdressers' Union aro to bo resisted by Wellington employers./ One employer characterises them as 'ab«' surd," and' states that, if grafted, they would "absolutely settle his business,; Tho wages of a competent man now; range from £2 Bs. to .£2 15s. a _ week,' according to tho value put on him b.v liis employer. That meant (ho added), that a really capable man seldom cd the minimum quoted. The uuion'A demand was for .£3 ss. per week. Tho- 1 hours now slightly vary at different, shops, biit on tho average they/ranged' from 5.30 a.m. or 9 a.m. until 8 p.m., ; with an hour off for luncheon and another for tea. From the point of view (continued the speaker) tha' proposal to alter the evening closing hour from 8 p.m. to 6 p.m. would bo disastrous, as between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.—< when people employed during tho day\ were able to find time to pay a visit, to tho barber—were often flip busiest hours of tho day. Tho proposal to clos<* at 9 p.m. instead of 10..')0 p.m. on Sat-i urdays was not so hurtful. After 9.30, p.m. on. Saturday there was "not t», groat deal doing." •The most ridiculous demand was' that, made for 3d. for every razor set not in the saloon. "Cheek" is the only word' to characterise such a demand, according to ono employer. They (the employers) were to get thp work, provide the stones,' and then pay tho men extra for working* at a branch of tho business during time for which they were paid a weekly wage. It is assumed (added this informant) that, this lias only been inserted by tho union as something "to play with" before conceding tho point. If, for the £ako ot. argument, tho demands were accfded to, in toto tho public would feel the pinchi at once—tho sixpenny hair-cut would), disappear at once.