BAKERS' DISPUTE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 89, 12 October 1932, Page 8

BAKERS' DISPUTE

NO AGREEMENT YET

THE WAGES QUESTION

"A WIDE GAP"

The bakers and pastrycooks' dispute was continued yesterday afternoon and to-day- before the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. W. Newton). The applicants' assessors were Messrs. E. J. Watson (Auckland>, A. McCarthy (Auckland), F. Mawhinuey (Wellington), A. Collins (Wellington), F. J. Niall (Christehureh)^ T. Hutton (Dunedin), and W. C. Nis"bett (Gisborne). The respondents' assessors were Messrs. C. Co|van (Auckland), E. H. Montgomery (Auckland), A. I. Clegg (Wellington), W. A. Kellow (Wellington), L. A. Woodward (Christenurch), G. A. Laurenson (Dunedin), and D. Dustin (Wanganui). After a general discussion yesterday the Council adjourned at 4 p.m. until the evening, when Mr. T. O. Bishop, employers' advocate, said that after careful consideration of the applicants' proposals, the respondents had decided to amend the schedule of their counter-proposals, making the proposed hours of work., still 48, but altering the starting times, and making the 3 a.m. start for bakehouse workers 4 a.m. The employers were also prepared to add 5s a week to each wage grade, meaning a reduction of 5 per cent. o~n present award rates. In addition, minor alterations to several other clauses, including1 those affecting holidays and defining casual workers, were proposed. Mr. Bishop said that in the event of an agreement being reached the employers would include a preference clause. The workers' assessors asked for time to consider these amended coun-ter-proposals, and the Council adjourned until this morning.. On resuming to-day, Mr. Watson said the workers' representatives could not see their way to accept the employers' proposals; it would be necessary to consult the local unions. The workers' assessors had agreed to Teduce their original demands regarding wages as follows:—Foremen, from £5 10s to £5 a week; journeymen, £5 to £4 10s; labourers, from £4 0s 6d to £3 12s, Bd. They claimed-the retention'of the provisions of the existing award in regard to hours of work and overtime payment. On behalf of the employers Mr. Bishop said the gap between the offers of the two parties was so wide that it was regretted that there was no reasonable prospect of coming to an agreement. The employers could not possibly accept the proposals of the unions. Mr. Watson: We have given way on certain provisions in the existing award, and we cannot do more without consulting the different unions. Mr. Bishop: The wages wanted by the unions are practically those in the present award. , ' - - The only concession of any importance made by the workers, said Mr Bishop, was in respect to the wages of women employees,, and that provision practically did not affect the - large bakers. . & It was ultimately agreed, on the motion of Mr. Niall, that' the council adjourn until the 26th inst., to enable the local unions to bo consulted.