TOBACCO WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 193, 13 May 1944, Page 8

TOBACCO WORKERS

Award Clauses In Dispute

The Northern, Wellington and Nelson industrial districts tobacco workers’ dispute was argued before the Court of Arbitration yesterday. A partial settlement was reached in Conciliation Council, and the clauses remaining in dispute governed wages, overtime, notice of overtime; the bonus system, . milk for employees, and the term of the award. For the workers, Mr. J. Thompson said the union had sought an increase in all rates of wages, but in regard to tire adult rates it appreciated that the Economic Stabilization Emergency Regulations debarred any increases except in so far as such increase was necessary for the adjustment of an anomaly. He asked the Court to give those rates its sympathetic consideration and make any increases it thought possible. It was not necessary to urge the need, for an increase, for the high cost of living was recognized on all sides. -He submitted some change could and should be made in the commencing rates, and in the graduation of junior rates without offending the regulations. Speaking of the bonus system, the rates for.which are fixed by the employer, he said the union wanted a new clause inserted in the award directing that the basis on which the bonus is calculated should be negotiated between the employer and the union. This would give unity to the wages system and the present, when the Stabilization Regulations prohibited increases in rates, was an opportune time to introduce control without trouble to employers. A clause was wanted directing that half a pint of milk be supplied to all female workers in a factory once a day. Mr. Thompson said this claim was based’ on well recognized principles of health, and that the clause would benefit the industry by improving the health of the workers.

Ou behalf of the employers, Mr. Mountjoy contended that all the matters in dispute were effected by the Stabilization Regulations. Tobacco workers were wail paid compared with laundry workers and biscuit and confectionery workers under recent awards of the Court. The bonuses paid by the firms were liberal and equitable, and had been accepted by the union in years gone by, and there was no ground for a change in practice. There was no more need for all female workers in tobacco factories to receive milk than there was for workers in other factories. The Court reserved its decision.