SHOP ASSISTANTS' DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 166, 8 April 1919, Page 5

SHOP ASSISTANTS' DISPUTE

CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS ADJOURNED. The Conciliation Council, presided over by the Commissioner, Jlr. Newton, fiat yesterday to consider the dispute between tho shop assistants and the employers in the soft goods, boot, hardware, fancy goods, stationery, and furniture trades. The assessors for the employers -.vero Jlr. AV. A. Grenfell (who was also agent.) and Messrs. F. H. Mather and D. S. Patrick. Tho assessors for the employees were Mr. A. AV. Croskery, Miss B. AVilliams, and Jlr. A. J. Humphries. At tho outset Mr. Grenfell made two objections against tho proceedings, viz., that no dispute had been created in tho boot, hardware, fancy goods, stationery, ami furniture trades, and that the union sought to bring one dispute for all tho trades instead of a separate dispute for each trade. These objections were made, said Mr. Grenfell, in order that propeleffect might be given to the conciliation provisions of tho Act.. Mr. Croskery contended that the objections were mere quibbles. He quoted authority for his contention that one dispute might cover all of the trades, and ho observed that so far as the charge that no dispute had been created in certain trades was concerned, it would bo easv for the union to create one by merely inviting the employers to a conference. Mr. Humphries said that the union would not agree to the creation of separate disputes. They were prepared to argue in the Court the question of getting one award to cover all the trades employing members of tho union. a _ The Commissioner gave it as ins opinion that one dispute might cover alt of tho trades. If, however, the parties could not agree on the point, it woulu have lo bo settled by the Court. Mr. R. Pearson (of the firm of Pearson and CO., boot manufacturers) said that he would endeavour to arrange a conference between employers in the boot trade and representativesoofi f the union. Aα agreement might be reached on the question of wages. In any case, lie thought that the parties would be able to agree, about hours. * Mr. Croskery said that tho union would bo very happy to meet the employers in amicable fashion. He was pleased to note that Mr. Pearson did not seem to lmv» any objection to the union's proposal that 5.30 p.m. should be the closing hour. The Commissioner: I take it that it we adjourn this dispute for a month we must also adjourn the disputes in the country districts for a month. Mr. Croskery agreed that that was so. The dispute was adjourned till Monday, May 5. In theJmeantime tliu union will take steps to create the necessary iuspute in the trades referred to in -Mr. Grenfell's objection. Tho question of one dispute or a number of separate disputes remains unsettled.