CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 22441, 11 September 1936, Page 10

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

RETAIL CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS . AGREEMENT ON MOST MATTERS Various matters, including wages and hours of work, were discussed at a meeting of the Conciliation Council this morning, when the Dunedin KetaiJ Chemists’ Assistants’ Industrial Union of Workers dispute was heard. Hie Commissioner (Mr S. Ritchie) presided, and the following were the assessors Employers; Messrs A. J. Race, J. Waters, and A. S. Cookson. Applicants: L. Hill, N. Peacock, and J. Robinson. Sixty-four chemists m Otago and Southland were cited by the applicants as respondents. The employers brought before the notice ot the council the fact that efforts were being made by the northern chemists to have a Dominion award, but in view of th 6 application made by the local workers it was agreed to consider their claims, though it was not possible for them to finally agree upon all the matters submitted. In brief, the claims of the union were : —The hours of work to be 44 hours per week, time in excess of that to be considered overtime and paid for at double rates; there to be 11 recognised holidays iu the year in addition to the annual holiday of a fortnight on the completion of 12 months work. The minimum weekly rates of wages to be as follows First year improvers, £4; second year improvers, £4 10s; unqualified assistants, £5 10s; qualified assistants, £6 15s. Provision to be made for under-rate workers, and references to be given to employees on application, stating position held and length of service, it to be illegal for employers to employ a non-unionist. ■ The award to operate throughout the Otago and Southland industrial district, and its term to be six months. In their counter-claim the employers offered the following minimum weekly wa"es for improvers:—First year, £2 10s"; second year, £3; an improver having passed a qualifying examination to receive 5s a week extra. Assistants to receive the 'following minimum weekly wages:—Unqualified assistants, £4; unqualified assistants with over two years’ in addition to that prescribed in clause 7 (c), £4 ss; qualified assistants, if not registered under the Pharmacy Act, £4 15s; qualified assistants, if registered, £5 ss. . 1) emales may be employed as shop assistants at the minimum rates as set out in the Shops aiid Offices Amendment Act. The term of the award to be two years. Agreement was reached in _ most of the terms and . conditions, including hours of work, which were fixed at 44 a week. The question of wages was held over to be at the next meeting. , , , The meeting was then adjourned for one month.