A NEW AWARD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 161, 27 March 1918, Page 5

A NEW AWARD

FOR MOTOR MECHANICS.

The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. W. Nowton) reported yesterday that a coinploto agreement had been reached in the motor mechanics' dispute. Until recently tho motor mechanics were included in the general engineers' award, but they were struck out of this by the Court. The agreement just arrived at will, if ratified, bo tho first award niado for motor mechanics alone. It is anticipated that this agreement will form tho basis of awards in other districts. Three classes of labour are to be recognised—journeymen, assistants, and under-rate workers. Forty-seven hours are to constitute.a week's work. The wages of journeymen are to bo not less than Is. 7}d. per hour. The wages of assistants are to be: —First year, 10s. per week; second year, 15s. j per week; third year, 20s. per week; fourth year, 255. per week; fifth year, 355. per week. Assistants under eighteen years of age shall not be per-; raitted to work more than six hours: overtime in one week; assistants under; twenty years not more than ten hours, i Employers who engage assistants; must teach them one or more branches j of the trade. No assistant is to bo \ taken under the award if over eighteen i years of age when commencing his first i year. The award shall not apply to garage \ or shop attendants, salesmen, or their j assistants, and those persons who may: occasionally do simple road adjust- j ments or may work in connection with j covers or tubos, washing, oiling, greas-! ing, cleaning, or polishing, adjustment i of lamps, or in packing; unpacking, or assembling cars (excluding engines) or cycles, or to a driver of a car who, may do road repairs; and piece-work shall be allowed.

The award is to come into force on Juno I next, and continue for two years. Tho award shall apply to the whole of the Wellington industrial district.