MERCHANTS' EMPLOYEES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 49, 22 November 1920, Page 7

MERCHANTS' EMPLOYEES

CLAIMS FOR NEW AWABD; The Wellington Wholesale Merchants' Employees' Union has filed claims for a Jtew award, and fho case will be heard by the Conciliation TJommlssioner (Mr. ~. Newton) on December 11. The union is askina that the ordinarr 'Keek's work shall consist of forty-four ..hours, overtime to be paid for at the Tate of time and a half. It is demanded that an. ordinary day's work shall not exceed nine hours. Head stoTemcn aDd head packers at present receive a minimum wago of £i 10s. per week, but it is now requested that their wages be increased to £5 10s. In rejard to'fitoreaaea aid packers, tho union is asking 'that the minimum wages bo raised frnm M to ■£b per- week. Workers employ- ' cd for less than one week, it is urged, ■shall bo deemed to be.casuals, and shall be .'paid-not less than 2s. 6d. per hour; •when casunl labour is employed a minimum of four hours-to .be paid, Tho ■ wages asked for junior storemen or packevs arn 13 follow—Under 17 years of ago, £2; from 17 to 18, £2 10s.; 18 to ID, £3; 19 to 20. £3 10s.; 20 to 21, £i. Each firm cv employer is to Be entitled to employ one junior, but the proportion of junior's to &dult workers shall not exceed one to three or fractKfti of three. Holidays which tho union wish to be. recognised ,tire: New Year's Day fad the day following, Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter.Monday, Anniversary Day, Anzac Day, Sovereign's Birthday, Labour Day, ■Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and the anion's picnifc day. Work done on Sundays or holrdnys shall' be paid for at tho rate_ of double- overtime, tho payment tii Be ill audition to the ordinary week's wage. Alter one year's nervico tho union desires TZd each Worker shall'be gran+M ou annual holiday of'U'days on full pay. Tho clause regarding meal hours ftfas :frtllows:~"(a) One hour shall Ijo allowed -'for meals. The omployer shall proviao 'suitable' dining and lavatory accommodation for all employees, (b) In the event '<jf the employer being -unable, to provide the necessary dining accommodation, the' employees shall hayn tho option of remaining on the premises during tho meal .hour," The demands contain the usual underrate wockew m and preference clauses, also a provision that no overtime shall'be worked on the night of tho monthly general meeting of tin, nnion. Twenty-four hours' notice shall bo givon an employee who is required to work overtime; or in lieu thereof, ten , money. -Employers aro to notify tho union weekly of any new hands taken 6n during that period, and when ■ any employee is discitiugfld he studl bo giveffTi written reference stating the position held and the length of service- Btorejnen and p&cEers empfoyed* "handling or mixing manures shall be paid no* 'lese than 2s. 7d. per hour, and workers engaged in picking fruit or potatoes shall bo provided with overalls, and paid Is. per lour m addition to ordinary rates. It in asked that tho remain in force for.one year'as from .Novoinber 6 last.