SOFT GOODS TRADE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 126, 21 February 1919, Page 7

SOFT GOODS TRADE

— «—- —- DEMANDS OF EMPLOYEES ' WAGES AND CONDITIONS A Dominion representative, was' yesterday supplied with a, copy of the demands to be made by the Wellington Soft (roods Employees' Union in the Arbitration Court next, week.' The secretary of the union stated'that tho rato of increase asked for in the 'wages was based uppn a report made hy -the Government Statistician ,-iipoii" the reduced purchasing power of-'the sovereign. \ ' The minimum .weekly wages demanded ni'e:—Branch manager or manageress,.£! , 55.; •departmental I manager or •' , window-dresser, ..£6 55.; canvasser, ;C5 ss.;.senior, (male),, and(female); assistants, first year, &1 ss. (male and female),, second year .£1 17s. Gd, (male), and £1. 13s. ,6d. .""(female , ; third- year-JK'lOs. (male) and iGI 17s. Gel. (female), fourth year .£3 12s. 6d. .(male), and £2 75.. Gd.' (female),, fifth.'year £3. 15s. (male) and JS2 175,. 6d. (female, and thereafter (for seniors):' J}s (male) und £i■ (female).' ■. '.The demands for.storemen's-wages are: Head storeman or only storeman, '£5; storeman or packer, =£4; seventeen years of ago and under, £1 12s. Gd.; seventeen and under eighteen, .£2; eighteen; and uhder nineteen, .£2 ■ 19s; .nineteen and ■under - twenty,-..£3 2s. Gd.; "twenty and wider twenty-0ne,;.,£3 12s. Gd,; ,and. thereafter, .d£4.' . . ■ ',' '' , -,For:'casual hands the .'union asks that the'wages shjill.be not less than 3s. per hour- -in the. case of males, and 2s. Gd. , per hour '.in the. case of 'females. Tho minimum; payment • set forth for any dav :.or.-part thereof is 16s v for. males aiid ,12s; for ;females. . . . ~ •Other clauses in the .demands .are as

under':— .. , ~ •Females . employed m special departments.—Any female', or selling ; or hattlHing the. following-' goods -shall. / -bfe'paid; the wages prescribed for males: Men's arid .juvenile' clothings,' mercery, carpets, linoleums,' bedding, cbtton dress goods, Manchester, furnishing.' dranery ' carpets, .linoleums, bedding cotton • dress goods, prints, men's; boots, furniture 'aiid, ironmongery. t ' . , . , '■Holiday.—The following shall'be • ob- : serve# as full holidays, viz.': Christmas • Day,/ Boxing Day, New Year-- Day andthe day following, Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday, 'Anniversary Day, Labour Day.. TJnion Picnic Dayy Prince of Wales's Birthday, tht Birtltday of the -Reigning Sovereign, Anzac Day, and Peace. Celebration Day. • Any. work done 011 Sundays, Christmas -Day,, or Good Friday shall .be .paid-,for at double rates; aiulVail work done'oll any of the . other specified holidays or "any i holidays observed in lieu thereof shall be paid .for at . the rate of time and-a-half.. Tlie said payments shall'be in addition to'the. ordinary weekly wage. One holiday of two weeks on_ full pay shall be 'granted to each worker under this award on completion'of each_ year of service.' ,A worker not completing a year of service shall be granted pay in 'lieu of'holidays in the s?me proportion according to the length of his or her services. This clause shall' not; apply to the case of any worker, dismissed -' for misconduct. ■ : Lift Attendant?.-Any person employed -driving or "attending"to a' lift shall be. paid not less than JS3 ss. per week. Proportion.—The number of apprentices or juniors in any shop shall not exceed one\ apprentice or junior to each three seniors employed. Place of Engagement.—When an,.<;em- , ployer. wishes to obtain the serviced of, a worker he shall in the first instance iriake an application to the secretary of' the union-to supply him. with the required worker, and if the union is not in a position to supply his requirements ■within a reasonable or prescribed tinie the employer -may engage,. any. _ person' •whether.'-a-.member of the ;; -inii6in- o,r otherwise. . • Performing Higher DutieK-EmpJoyees engaged in doing work> which-is paid for at a higher wage than that, which they usualv perform shal lieceive the higher rate "for the time employed on . such work- : ; • • i ' ■ - Notice re Overtime , arid Tea Money - Employees-required-to .work after -5.30 - :p>m. shall be paid ;ls. Cd. ; .teii.-.money in addition to any .overtime to which they may ho entitled. In shops keeping open on the late shopping night no tea money need bo paid for that night. Twentyfour 'hours' notice shall be given'to an employee, who sliall be-required to.work overtime. '

Dining and Rest Booms—Each employer shall provide fining-room accommodation sufficient for all employees requiring the same in his-establishment. It shall be the duty of each employer to provide a room furnished with suitable couches .and other necessary nccommoda-' tion for itho exclusive use of all female employees -in . his employ. Each employer who employs females • shall have a ■ female ' porter, whose duty.;, it shall be .to clean all dining-rooms .and lavatories used- by female assistants.. In any. establishment where-an employer requires any employees. to <ftess ■ in-any -particular style of colour (black .or white included) *uch garment; hot being , the employees' usujil Outdoor wearing garment, then such employer, shall provide such garment to such employees - free. In all shops where female assistants .ire employed cloak and-.dressinff-rcom facilities 1 shall be provided for all employees.- ■ : There is a provision for the issuing of a- permit to an' "under-rate worker," and there "is the usual "preference" clause. .