BOOTMAKING TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 91, 14 October 1932, Page 10

BOOTMAKING TRADE

PAYMENT FOR OVERTIME

POINTS AGREED UPON

The question of overtime was considered when the dispute between the employers and employees in the boot operatives' trade was resumed before the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr G W ■F. Gohns) this morning. ' ' It was agreed yesterday that three hours should be worked after the ordinary week had been completed before excess overtime would be required to be paid. There was a difference of opinion as to whether the rate should be time and a quarter or time and a half for the first three hours. The employers maintained that the condition of the trade at present was such that overtime could not be paid without their losing money. '"Mr". J. A. East said that his firm, as i l L 6^ 1* "■ of working overtime had lost £600 in a year, and the directors had ruled that no overtime was to be worked. The employers were not in favour of keeping small staffs and working overtime when necessary.. Beasonable overtime, however, was of benefit to both employers and employees Mr. Duckworth said that even if the employers could work overtime at the ordinary rates of pay he did not think, much overtime would be worked. The payment of double time was absolutely iniquitous, and he would not agree-to it under any conditions. Mr. Watts said that it was desired to make the working..of excess overtime practically prohibitive, as" a man was not in a position to appreciate the extra money'earned after he had been working long hours. He asked whether the employers would consider fixing the overtime rate at time and a half for an unlimited period. AGREEMENT REACHED. The employers refused to accept, but they agreed to an alternative proposal that time and a quarter should be paid for the first two hours of overtime for a period of 13 weeks, anything in excess of two hours to be paid for at the rate of time and a half. The employers' delegates then agreed to. give preference to unionist workers. It was agreed that a disputes and advisory committee, comprising two representatives from each side, with an independent chairman, should be appointed in each industrial centre, and that'all disputes arising out of the award must be referred to it before going to the Court. This will also apply to the female section. WAGES FOR FEMALE EMPLOYEES. For the payment of female assistants the employers proposed a wage of 10s a week for the first year, increasing in annual increments of 5s to 30s for- the ■ fifth year. The counter-pro-posals of the ; employees were for £1 3s for the first year, increasing by regular increments every six months to £2 8s at the end of the fifth year. After another . retirement the employees' delegates offered to accept the employers' proposals with regard to assistants, provided that they should apply only to assistants engaged after the new award came into force. In return the employees asked that the present award rates for journey women should continue. After a retirement, the employers announced that they would agree to increase their offer for a journey woman's wage to lljd an hour arfd'would accept the other conditions. Mr. Watt's said he was disappointed with the employers' offer, as they gained more from the reduction in the assistants' wages than they stood to lose on the journey women's wages. It was eventually agreed ■ that the journeywomen 's wages should, be Is an hour. Tor hot-wax-thread machinists a wage of £2 9s per week was agreed upon. It was agreed that where there were five or more females employed the employer should be entitled to one foreman or forewoman, who should not be eligible for membership of any union of workers or be restricted by any clause in the award.

Boxing Day is to continue as a public holiday.