ARBITRATION COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 31, 31 October 1917, Page 9

ARBITRATION COURT

EMPLOYERS' APPEAL

WOMEN IN BACON FACTORIES

The New Zealand Farmers' Co-opera-tive Bacon and Meal; Packing Co., Liu., applied to the' Arbitration Court yesterday for leave to employ females in certain branches of the trade. Tho respondents were the Wellington JiVeezing and Bacon Curing Works Employees' Union.

On the bench were Mr. Justice Strinsjer and Mr. W. Scott (employers' representative) and Mr. .J. A. H'Culloiigh. (workers' representative). . The statement of claim was as follows: Tho applicants desire to have provision made by. tho Arbitration for the employment of tema'ies at- such work and operations .in bacon and meat packing factories as may reasonably be performed by females. Application is therefore made that the following terms, conditibne, and provisions lie incorporated in an award:—

Classes of Work. Females may be employed at the following' and similar classes of work, that is to sayLard Department—Attending cooking machines, attending patting machines, gumming cartons, inserting parchment liners and filling same, packing cartons in boiee. Bacon Department—Bagging and packing, sewing and seeding bacon and hame, packing Defence orders. Preserving Department—Labelling and packing. Cheese-making Department—Filling and packing cheese tins. Bag-making—Sewing arid printing bags. Waoes. The minimum wages to be paid to females coming within the scope of Ibo award shall be as follow , :—

First six months, 15s. per week; etcond sit months, 18s.; third months, 215.; fourth six months, 255.; nnd thereafter 80s. Hours.of work and overtime in accordance vrith the provisions of tho Factories Act, 1908.

. • Terms of Employment. The employment shall be deemed to l;e a weekly one, and no dechiction shall be made for tho holidays mentioned in section 35 of the Factories Act, 1908.

An employer shall not be bound to pny for time lost by a , worker through her illness or default or through her voluntary absence from work with the , consent of the employer. • ./

■ Wages,shall be.paid , weekly or fortnightly;, ! aßji N 'not more. than two .days' pay shall be kept in land. . Mr. W. Grenfell appeared for the employers; and Mr. M. j.Beardon for the union; ■ • 'Evidence was called in- rapport of the appellants' claim, but the other side did not. call evidence. '~ Tho. Court, reserved its decision.