CLERICAL WORKERS

Evening Star, Issue 22463, 7 October 1936, Page 12

CLERICAL WORKERS

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE ADJOURNED SINE DIE The industrial dispute between the Otago Clerical Workers’ Industrial Union of Workers and the Perpetual Trustees, Estate, and Agency Co. and other employers, was heard at a sitting of the Conciliation Council this mornThe commissioner (Mr S. Ritchie) presided, and there were present as assessors : —Employers—Messrs A. J. Allen, J. H. Kirkwood, A. W. Jeavons ; employees—Messrs G, W. Clarke, and R. Herbert. Mr A. S. Cookson was agent for the employers and Mr W. Herbert for the employees. A general scale of wages was sought for male office assistants. Youths engaged at age 14, 15s, with half-yearly increases till 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 was sought, -with progressive increases bringing the wage to £6 15s at ages 26 years and 27 years respectively. For those starting at 18 years of age £1 5s was asked, for those at 19 years £2, and for those at 20 years £2 ss, progressive increases in each of those cases bringing the wage to £6 15s at 28 years of age. The rate thereafter to be paid on_ merit. For female clerks the union sought the same rate as male workers till they received £4 10s, the rate thereafter to be on merit.

For junior tvpistes > the_ following rates were sought:—First six months, £1; second six months, £1 ss; third six months, £1 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 6s was asked, and for shorthand-typistes the same amount; for those of 22 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 were 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 was asked for those in charge of 20 drivers or more or acting as first assistant to employerexecutive or manager; £6 10s for those in charge of 10 up to 19 drivers inclusive; £5 10s for those in charge of any number up to nine drivers inclusive. For forwarding clerks £7 10s a week was sought for a clerk in charge, £5 10s for first assistant clerk, and £5 for second assistant clerk. The above rates to be applied subject to the provision of the general scale of wages cased on age and experience, the employee to receive whichever rate is the higher. The hours clause stated: 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 business within 30 minutes of the regular closing time. Provision was also sought for clerical workers employed in'shops and in connection with a factory. The union asked that the proportion of employees under 21 years of age should not be increased in consequence of the agreement, and that the proportion of such junior employees to adults should not in any case exceed one junior to one or two adults, two juniors to three or four adults, three juniors to five or six and thereafter not more than one junior to every three or fraction of three adults. Fourteen days’ holiday on full pay was sought for every employee after 12 months’ continuous service.

The counter-proposals submitted by the employers included the following provisions:—“ Clerks ” to be deemed to bo employees primarily engaged in writing, typing, or any other form of clerical work. “ Typists ” to be deemed to be employees who are employed on typing and/or shorthand, but who may in addition perform other work. The hours of work to be 40 a week, and not less than three-quarters of an hour to be allowed for lunch. Where more than 44 hours of work a week are permitted, the hours of employment prescribed may be exceeded, provided the total hours should not exceed 48 in the week. In the case of clerical workers employed by wool brokers, or wool buyers, the hours of employment may be varied to suit requirements, provided such hours do not average more than 48 a week in any year. Clerical workers employed in factories, or in any industry in which the hours of employment have been reduced below 44 the hours of employment not to exceed, by more than half an hour daily, those fixed without payment of overtime. Any time worked in excess of nine hours on the first five days of the week, provided the total weekly hours are not exceeded, to be paid for at the rate of time and a-half, with a minimum payment of Is fid an hour, workers employed on overtime to bo allowed Is fid for a meal. Unless otherwise provided, the employment to be a weekly one, with one week’s notice of termination by either party. Workers employed for less than one week to be deemed casuals. None of the provisions of the award to apply to any worker in receipt of not less than £6 a week. Employers to be entitled to make a rateable deduction from the wages of employees for time lost through sickness or default, or for time lost from any cause beyond the employer’s control. The minimum rates of wages for female and junior male workers to be 15s a week in the first six months of service, and increasing in 4s rises to 35s in the sixth six months of service, £2 in the fourth year, and £2 5s thereafter. Male clerks to be paid the rates set out in the preceding sub-clause up to and including the fourth year of service, and thereafter as follows:—Fifth year £2 10s a week, sixth year £3, seventh year £3 10s, eighth year £4, and thereafter £4 10s a week. The proportion of junior office assistants not to exceed three juniors to each fully-paid employee, the employer to be classed as the first fully-paid employee for the purpose of the proportion. Holidays prescribed in the Shops and Offices Act, 1921-22, or the Factories Act, 1921-22, to be observed. In addition to the statutory holidays set out, an annual holiday of one week bo allowed on completion of each year of continuous .service, such holidays to be taken at a time suitable to the employer.

The proposals were discussed through>out the morning, and as it was considered unlikely that any agreement would be reached on the vital parts of the dispute cowmiit waa adjourned Biw* i * .*