WORKING JEWELLERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 284, 25 August 1921, Page 7

WORKING JEWELLERS

DISTRICT AWARD FILED WAGES FOR JOURNEYMEN AND APPRENTICES An award relating to the wages and conditions of the Wellington district manufacturing jewellers, watch and clock makers’ employees was filed in the Arbitration Court yesterday. When the matter was dealt with by a Conciliation Council in Wellington recently there was a great deal of discussion, and at the conclusion of the hearing the parties decided to accept without alteration the recommendations of the council. The term of the award has been fixed by the Court, with the consent of the parties. It will come into effect, as far as it relates to wages, as from August 1 of this year, and as far as all the other provisions are concerned as from August 23. The award will continue in force until August 1, 1823. The clauses relating to wages provide that journeymen shall be paid not loss than £4 10s. a week; workers employed solely on routing machine or on stamping machine (doing other than jewellery or badge work) to be paid not less than £4 a week. To these rates a bonus of 3s. a week is added. Demal© workers, who may only be employed on certain work, are not to bS apprenticed, and will receive wages as follow:—Dirst six months, dll a week; second six months, dll 2s. 6d. a week; second year, dll ss. a week; third- year, JEI 10s. a week; fourth year, dll 17s. 6d. a week; and thereafter not less than £2ss. a week. ! Tho following bonuses arc to bo added:—Demales over 21 years of age, 6s. 6d. a week; under that age, 6s. a week. Recognised holidays are to be New Year’s Day, January 2, Anniversary Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, King’s Birthday, Labour Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. In the event of any of the holidays, with th© exception of Good Friday and Easter Monday, falling on a Sunday, the following day’ is to be observed as a holiday. The, avlard provides that the term of apprenticeship shall be six years. Wages for apprentices are fixed as follow:— First year, 15s. a week; second year, dll 2s 6d a,week; third year, dll 10s. a week; fourth year, £1 17s. 6d. a week; fifth year, .(82 ss. a week; sixth year, £?> a week. The proportion of apprentices to journeymen is not. to exceed one to three or fraction of three. Special clauses are contained relative to underrate workers, whose employment is permitted under special circumstahces. Nothing in the award will apply to any foreman, manager, or shop assistant. A foreman is dcfinlad as a journeyman in charge of any branch of the trade in whicli three or more workers are-' employed. - .< >. Eighty-six employers were cited m the claims, in the towns of Wellington, Wanganui, Napier, Hastings, Palmerston North, Masterton, Dannevirke, Woodville, Foxton, Lovin, Waipawa, Waipukurau, Otaki, Featherston, and Carterton. ,