HOTEL WORKERS' UNION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 213, 3 June 1919, Page 8

HOTEL WORKERS' UNION

; INCREASE IN WAGES SOUGHT. . The half-yearly meeting of the Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union was held in the Trades Hall last evening. It was decided to approach the employers for a conference with the idea of obtaining an- increase -of wages. The half-yearly report, which was adopted, state# that on behalf of the many workers who were laid aside during the epidemic, tho executive claimed that these workers were entitled to be paid their wages for time lost, and consequently demands were made upon different.employers,'but the employers refused to pay, consequently two cases were taken to determine the point: (1) To decide he liability of the employer to pay wages to workers for the time the totals •were closed for mid through the epidemic. (2) To decide the liability of the employer to pay wages to those, workers who were laid aside through influenza, and whose contract of servico was not legally terminated. Both of these cases were decided in favour of the union, and the employers who had not paitl these wages to workers for this period, were asked to pay, but flatly refused. Legal proceedings are now being taken against all of these employers for the recovery of these wages. During tho half-year new awards were for; (1) Wanganui-Palmcrcton North district, Napier-Hastings district, and Waiinarino, Wairarapa-Otaki, «te., districts; (2) for tho private, hotels in the country districts; and (3) for the restaurant. tea-rooms* refreshments rooms, etc., in the country districts. As regards membership the report stated that during theperipd under review, 450 new members wcrt) enrolled, while it was hoped to enrol, a further 1000 members 'during the ensuing period. This increase was anticipated from country districts which had recently come under union conditions, and it .was considered that the union would soon have a membership of WOO. In connection with the test caso on tho. week's- holiday every twelve months, the report stated thet tho case was decided not against the union, font half and half, and would receive, further attention later. Mention was made of tho fact that all of Hie Canterbury Industrial District was provided with awards covering members of tho union, and the only districts in New Zealand which had no unions were Nelson and Westland. Steps were to be taken to hav# organisations 6et up in these places.

In regard to re-forming the federation of all hotel workers' unions in New Zealand, the executive expressed tho opinion that the work should be taken in hand immediately, for the reason that during tho next session of Parliament amended legislation relating to hours of work was to bo sought. The balance-sheet was adopted.

The following officers were elected for ensuing period:—President, Mr. W. Allison ; vice-president, Mr. V. Peterson; treasurer, Mr.. AV. Galloway; trustees, Messrs. Leo and Bailey; committee, Mr. O. Cotterell and Sirs. M. O'Malley. and four female members to watch tho inter-, ests of tho women workers.