FURNITURE WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 134, 2 March 1920, Page 7

FURNITURE WORKERS

NEW AWARD FILED. The Arbitration, Court has filed its award in connection with tho Wellington furniture trade workers' dispute. This provides for a 44-hour week, but ip establishments in which tho hours of work are regulated by tho Shops and Offices Act, tie'44-hour clause is no.t to apply so far as furniture-packers are concerned. Provision is made, that the minimum wage to .be paid to journeymen cabinetmakers, upholsterers, machinists,!! chair and frame; makers, woodenrvers, turners and polishers shall bo Is. lfljd. per hour, plus 3d. per hour bonus, and for picture-frame makers and wire-mat-tress makers in all branches it iB to be Is! M. per hour, plus 3d. bonus. Labourers employed at timber-stacking, fur-niture-packing, or other unskilled work are to be paid not less, than Is. Gd. per. hour, plus 3d. bonus. Apprentices are to receive not less than 15s. a week for the first year'; 20s. a week for tho second year; 255. a week for tho third year; 30s. a week for the fonyth year; and 455. a week for the fifth year. The propor-, lion' of apprentices to journeymen is not to exceed one to every two journeymen ot fraction of two employed in the Ba*me branch of tho trade.

Provision is made for a three-year apprenticeship in tho case of picture-frame makers and wire-mattress makers, with 15s. a week for the first year, 255. a week -for the second year, and 375. Gd. a, week for the third year.

The award .contains, tho usual underrate workers' and preference clauses, and td'fi provision for canial workers and for travelling expenses'; including board and lodging. Piecework is to lie allowed, and no contract work, unltep such work 13 paid for at not less than the wages above prescribed. The award, which embodies without alteration the recommendations of the Conciliation Council, is to operate throughout tho Wellington industrial distriot from March 1, 1920, till March 1, 1922.