SHEARERS' WAGES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3117, 22 June 1917, Page 6

SHEARERS' WAGES

FARMERS APPLY FOR AN AWARD

PROPOSALS SUBMITTED

Claims for an award in (he shearing industry have been filed with the Clevk of Awimls by William Barton, of i'Vnthei'Stou, .shcopfeinner, nnd Alexander Donald .U'l.eod, of Martinliiirniigli. sheopfnrmer, citing the Wellington Shearer*' Union. The principal proposals niiule by the applicants are as follow:— Hours of Work.-5 a.iii. to 5 p.m. or 5.30 :i.m. to'S.HO p.m., with intervals for meals and smokings as shall lie mutually agreed upon between the shed manager and the shearers' representative. Shearing shall stop at ■!■ p.m. on Saturday, except in the case when 43 hours 20 minutes' work shall have been done before noon, in which case work shall stop then. When shearing wet tiwes the shed manager may alter the intervals for smoking, and extend the hours by half an hour to complete the cut-out.

Rates of Pay.—.£l per hundred with rations for machine or hand shearing and shearing of lambs. Where shearers find their own rations of 3s. per hundred extra shall be paid. Kates for stud sheep shall bo settled between the employer and the shearer. Hogget rams, rate and a half; other ram's, double ordinary rates.

Payment of Wages.—Once a week the employer shall pay a sum not exceeding 75 per cent, of the amount due to the shearer, the balance to be paid on completion of the shearing.

Disputes shall be settled between the elected representative of the shearers and the person in charge of tho shed. There are provisions also regarding ihe handling of sheep, shearing wet sheep, supply of grinding material, machines, and oil by the employer, and combs and cutters for machines by the shearer. It is proposed that any worker who neglects to fulfil an engagement shall be deemed to have committed a breach of the award.

Shed Hands' Hours of Work—While shearing ia in progress and for such time not exceeding 2-4 hours a week as may be required to clear up tho shed. A shed liand may be required to fill in. timo at other duties in. or about tho shed or pens when shearing is suspended. . Shed Hands' Kates of Pay.—Pres3crs and wool-sorters, £1 15s. per week or Is. 2d. per hour; all other shed hands £1 12s. Gd. per week, or Is. Id. per hour. Pressing may be done by piecework at rates to be agreed upon with the employer, but so that tho worker shall not be paid loss than the minimum hourly rate. Wages for cooks, .£2 per week; cooks' assistants -CI 12s. Gd. per week. Rations shall be provided by the employer or 15s. per week be paid in addition.

Tt is proposed that questions not provided for shall bo fettled between tho particular employer and the union representative or by reference to a Magistrate, but there shall be no cessation of work.

No discrimination, shall be exercised by the employer against members of the union, but -members and non-members shall work in haxniony. The following- clause is also included in the claims: "Neither the union nor any member thereof shall do anything either directly or indirectly for tho purpose of preventing any person from working under the conditions fixed By this award, or for the purpose of inducing any person to abstain from working under the said conditions, and for the purpose of constituting a breach of this provision it shall not be necessary for the offender to have any particular person or persons in view at the time of the alleged oil'ence."

The term suggested for an award is ■from August 1, 1917, to March 31, 1920, or until six months after the declaration of peace.

Assessors recommended l>y the applicants are: Henry Archibald Nevins, Teniii; Patrick Patullo, Puketapu, Hawke's Bay: and Ewen Alexander Campbell, AVanganui, all sheepfarmeis. It -may "be mentioned that the proposals made by th© Agricultural an<l Pastoral Workers' Union when seeking an agreement with the sheepowners were, roughly, 275. 6(1. per hundred for shearing, and £3 ]os. per week for shed hands, withcorresponding rates in other branches. " , . ■