CLERKS’ WAGES

Evening Star, Issue 22446, 17 September 1936, Page 10

CLERKS’ WAGES

NEWLY-FORMED UNION FILES CLAIMS CONCILIATION COUNCIL SITTING FIXED The newly-formed Otago Clerical Workers’ Industrial Union has_ filed its claims for an award, and a sitting of the Conciliation Council has been arranged for October 7 to hear the application. A general scale 9f wages is sought for male office assistants. For the youth engaged at age 14 a wage of 15s is asked, with half-yearly increases till he is 19 bringing the wage to £2 15s, and yearly increases thereafter bringing the wage to £6 15s at 26 years of age. For youths engaged at 15, 16, and 17 years of age, a commencing wage of £1 is sought, with progressive increases bringing the wage to £6 15s at ages 26 years, 26 years, and 27 years respectively. For those starting at 18 years of age £1 5s is asked, for those at 19 years of age £2, and for those at 20 years £2 ss, progressive increases in each of Jihose cases bringing the wage to £3 15s at 28 years of age. The rate thereafter is to be paid on merit. For female clerks the union seeks the same rate as male clerks till they receive £4 10s, the rate thereafter to be on merit. For junior typistes the following rates are sought:—First six months, £1; second six months, £1 ss; third six months, 10s; fourth six months, £1 15s; fifth six months, £2 2s 6d; sixth six months, £2 10s; then equal increments till 21 years of age is reached. For typistes of 21 years of age £3 5s is asked, and for shorthand-typistes the samj amount; for those of 92 years of age, £3 7s 6d and £3 10s respectively ; 23 years of age, £3 10s and £3 15s; 24 years of age, £3 12s 6d and £4; 25 years of ('age, £3 15s» and £4 ss; 26 years of age, £4 and £4 10s; thereafter on merit. Under a special wage classification the following rates are sought for Customs agents:—Ten years’ service as licensed agent, or those in charge of a department, or who are employed as first assistant to an employer agent or manager, £8 8s a week; those having five years’ service as licensed Customs agents, £7 7s; any other licensed Customs agent, £5 ss. For cartage clerks a wage of £7 10s a week is asked for those in charge of 20 drivers or more, or acting as first assistant to employerexecutive cr manager; 16 10s for those in charge of 10 up to 19 drivers inclusive; £5 10s for those in charge of any number up to 9 drivers inclusive. _ For forwarding clerks £7 10s a week is sought for a clerk -i < large; £5 10s for first assistant clerk; and £5 for second assistant clerk. The above rates, it is claimed ; are to be applied subject to the prcvisioi of the general scale of wages based on age and experience, the employee to receive whichever rate is the higher. The hours clause states: Office hours shall_ begin not earlier than 8 a.m. and terminate not later than 5 p.m., with at least one hour for. lunch between 11.45 a.m. and 2.15 p.m. The normal working week shall be Monday to Friday inclusive, and the total hours worked shall not exceed 38. ... • Every employee shall be clear of the office or place of within 30 minutes or the regular closing time. Provision is also sought for clerical workers employed in shops and in connection with a factory. The union asks that the proportion of employees under 21 years of age shall not be increased in consequence of the agreement, aqd that the proportion of such junior jinployees to adults shall not in any e exceed one junior to 1 or two adults, two juniors to three or four adults, three juniors to five r six adults, and thereafter not more than one junior to every three or fraction of three adults. Fourteen days’ holiday on full P a y is sought for every employee after 12 months’ continuous service.