WORKING CONDITIONS IN SHOPS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 231, 24 June 1919, Page 6

WORKING CONDITIONS IN SHOPS

| o PROPOSALS OF WELLINGTON GROCERS' ASSISTANTS. The Wellington Grocers' Assistants' Union will ask the New Zealand Labour Party at its annual conference to adopt the following suggestions for improving the conditions of work in shops:—That tho hours per week shall not be longer than -t4. That no shop assistant shall bo employed after 5 on" J any night in tho week. That all shops shall be closed at 12 noon on Saturday*. That all extended hours shall be dono away with at Christmas and New Year, thereby avoiding an injustice which shop assistants have had to put up with for many years past. That it shall be compulsory for eveTy shop assistant lo have his or her-half-holiday, notwithstanding that another holiday sitall have occurred ill the same week. That Easter Saturday shall be made one of the statutory closing days in the Act. That the provision that an employee who is receiving in excess of .CI 17s. (id. per ft'eek is not entitled to overtime shall be abolished. That all overtime shall lie paid for, in addition to tea money. That suitable dining accommodation shall bo provided in all shops for both male and female em. ploj-ees. That the Act shall provide for satisfactory heating and seating accommodation, and that thermometers shall be installed ill each department in each shop in order that assistants may bo ftbte to see that the requirements of the Act-with regard to heating are carried out. That rest rooms for tho convenience of female employees shall bo provided, and that female inspectors shall be appointed, such inspectors to be selected from the ranks of femalo shop assistants. The Wellington East branch of the partv will submit the following remit: "That the Shops and Offices Act bo so amended ns to provide that female inspectors be appointed, such inspectors to be selected from the raJiks of femalo shop assistants." j