BUTCHERS’ AWARD

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 229, 22 June 1921, Page 7

BUTCHERS’ AWARD

COURT FILES AMENDMENTS. Amendments to the award of the Wellington Operative Butchers’ Union have lieen filed by the Court of Arbitration. By the amended award the hours of work are not to exceed 45 per week, to bo worked between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on four days, with not lees than one hour for dinner on each day. Saturday hours will be worked between 6 a.m. to '5 p.m., with 1 not less than one hour for breakfast and ona for dinner. On Wednesday, the hours are to be worked between 7 and noon. In shops where tho half-holiday is fixed for Saturday, Wednesday hours are io bo worked on that day. The award provides .that a worker may be employed at any hour to supply shipping, provided that if tho time so occupied is in excees of the hours laid down under the Shope and Offices Act, overtime is to be paid. The award adds a bonus of 14s. a week to the minimum rates of pay.. In a memorandum attached to the award, Judge Frazer stated that the union applied for an all-round increase in the rates of wages fixed by tho award to bring Wellington rates up to tho level of other centres —rates made payable under more recent awards. In the present instance, the workers had received the cost-of-living increases awarded by the Court, nnd there was no power to alter the rates except in accordance with movements in tho cost of living. Such alterations had been made occasionally in the. past, when the quantity of general, increases was not opposed, but in the case under review the employers had opposed any increase being granted during the currency rf the award. "Jt has to bo borne in mind," said His Honour, "that, owing to the varying dates on which award® for d jiff er ent 'districts expire, pome unions must necessarily be at sometimes n little in advance of the general rates, and at other times, a little below. . .

Tha Court has amended the award In respect of overtime, but has refused a request for the fixing of compulsory' hours of closing of butchers’ shops, as the Court has ruled that it haa no power -to insert such a provision in an existing award."