5/- RISE IN WAGES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 66, 10 December 1937, Page 6

5/- RISE IN WAGES

1— Presa Association.)

Job-Printing and NewspaperPublishing Awards

(By Telegraph

WELLINGTON, Last Night. An agreement on the terms of two awards for the newspaper-publishing and commereial-printing industries was concluded to-day by the Conciliation Council, over whii ^ Mr. M. J. Eeardon, commissioner, presided, The only matter remaining for further consideration is the clause delming the basis for payment of machine cmposition by 1 piece operators. Th© council acted on the recent announcement by the Court of Arbitration that it is proposed to make a general inerease of 5/- in the existing rates of wages of adult male weekly workers. The principal rates in both awards were accordingly increased by 5/- in each case. Consequential adjustments were made in special payments. A general classification to include adult male employees not otherwise' designated was introduced in the related trades award. The wages of linotype operators will thus become £5 15|/- a week. *•- The wages for males in the publishing department wer© fixed at £4 7/6. Provision was also made for f emal© and junior workers and for casuals in this sectioh. The minimum wages for females were fixed at £i for the first six months, increasing by 4/- each halfyear to £2, -vvith £2 4/- in the fourth year, &2 12/- in the fifth year and thereafter £2 18/. An amendment of what is known as the "cast ui>" clause, which fixes the basis for computing piece operators' earnings, was considered. It was finally agreed that the employers' ■ assessors should intimate within on© week whether they would approve of this amendment. If they do not do so, the workers' organisation will have the right to refer the question to th© Arbitration Court. The workers' assessors asked for some special provision for adult male workers regularly employed . six days weekly. It was finally agreed that thes© workers should receive, iu addition to the holidays otherwise prescribed, one other whole holiday annually. . The two awards will come into force about December 19 and will contihue in force until December 31, 1938.