CLOTHING WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 206, 26 May 1921, Page 6

CLOTHING WORKERS

WOMEN WISH AWARD.

1 The claims of female workers engaged 'in clothing factories (“white workers”) i-fior an award governing their condiitions of employment were heard by the 1 Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. W. New-

ton) yesterday. Demands made by the . tanion were published in yesterday’s' 'Dominion. Assessors for the employees ‘were Misses J. Runoiman, K. Finnic, Sand! ■C. Hobbs; and for the employers 'Messrs. J. Abel, D. Cohen, and H. A. ; Potvine. Mr. W. A. W. Grenfell appeared as agent for the employers. I Mr. Grenfell raised an objection to the case being heard by a sitting of a ■Conciliation Council before a conference had been held with the employers.

Mr. Abel said the employers in this ! case held that they were a different i branch of the trade from clothing manuifachirers. It was only a minority of 'the girls in the factories who wanted a ‘Wniwn, and the great majority, he felt isur.a, objected to being dtrawn into the ■matter by the Tailoresses’ Union. The had been quite willing to imeet the employees, but they had not i been given a chance to do so. They ''felt somewhat hurt on the matter. Miss Runciman. detailed tho stope .'taken to organise the “white workers” in the clothing trade. In other places the title of tho Tailoresses 1 Union had been altered to include all workers in [the clothing trade. Wages had been 'high in Wellington, but tho union had '.promised employers in other centres to nave all places put on. tho same level, and that was why the “white workers” ’had been organised. There were awards '(already in Auckland, Christchurch, and I Dunedin. Miss Runciman contender! ' that tho union had not acted in an 'underhand mahner.

' Mr. Cohen, remarked that the employers had not ,been notified of the lohango in tho title of the union. Neither had they received a reply to their /last letter, asking for information re--jgarding the competency of the union to 'represent the workers. I Counter-proposals were put in by the 'employers, suggesting that a journcy- / Woman should be one who had served 1 two years as a beginner and two years ’as an improver. The hours of work inshouM be as provided by the Factories I'Act, lOCS. It was suggested that the hrnte of overtime should bo time and a- ' quarter, and that tjie minimum wago ;of journeywomen and female examiners j should lie JSI 15s. per week, with a . bonus of 55., instead of £2 10s. asked by >. the union. The union’s claims regard- ' in? preference were not agreed te. I The hearing is not yet concluded.