FREEZING WORKERS' AWARD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 70, 15 December 1937, Page 9

FREEZING WORKERS' AWARD

h— Press AssociationP

Case for 40-Hour Week Submitted CONDITIONS OF WORK

(By Telegrap

p AUCKLAND, Last Night. 1 I Material egreement on about 50 ofl the employees ' 90 claims was reackedan conference before an application for ia new award by workers engaged in ithe freezing industry throughout New jZealand brought before the Second jArbitration Court. Hours of work, pvertime and wages were among Jtha jquestions remaining to be settled, and the first day -'s sitting was pccupied With the employees' case. , The Court eomprised Mr. Justice {Hunter and Messrs, W. E. Andersou and A. W. Croskery. Mr, W E Sill, of Auckland, was .the employees' advocate, supported by Mr. G. Baker, of Auckland, Mr. A. McLeod, of Wellington, and Mr. H. G. Kilpatrick, of Christchurch, The employers' representatives were Mr. C. G. Wilkin, of Christchurch, an£ Mr. J. . J. Evans, of Wellington. Presenting the employees' case, Mr. Bill said the dispute involvod many technical matters on which the Court tvculd be assisted in the framing of an award. The first point was hours of svork, the principal issue being a ° 40iiour week of five days. Application rr as made for this in the last award, but it was refused without any reason being given by the Court. It was koped to show that .the proposition was L practical pne in the industry. "The freezing workers have the jtrongest of claims for this concessiou in working hours," said Mr. Sill. '.The industry is arduous and unpleasant; in fact, there is no othei industry which is so unattractive. We submit that the freezing workers refpiire more leisure fhan other workers, 10 that they may engage in some racreatioa in order to counteract the dehumanising and unhealthy conditions of their employment. It would appear there is something wrong with an industrial system which limits hours to 40 ia healthy occupations and with- | holds such conditions from one who worka in a freezing chamber4, shut p££ from sunlight, and in a femperature below zero." Eegarding overtime, Mr. Sill said the present award provided that time and a-half be paid for six hours and dou ble time thereafter, It was now proposed that time and a-half should be paid for two hours and double time thereafter. It waa submitted that excessive pvertime should be discouragod. J "Freezing workers' wages have been adjusted by the Court on 14 oceasions within the past 18vyears," continued Mr. Sill. "The only question now to be determined is to what exteut freezing workers should share in the upward. trend which wages are now takiug.. The parties have been unable Jo settle on any revised standard pf rates. We submit they should be increased in ,the same ratio as the Court 's pronouneement on standard rates for other workers. ' ' |n addition to the present holiday scliedule, it was requested that Anuiversary Day and .two other days, to bo mutually arranged in each district, ihould be granted. "The dressing, dining and drying rooms at most freezing works are no eredit to the companies," said Mr. Sill. "The matter has been the subjeet of sndless disputes over a period of 20 years, and it is time proper provision »7as made in this direction. We ask the Court to specify the minimum pro* visions. ' ' The use of arsenic in preparations. for the treatment of skins was criticised. Evidence in eondemnation pf the ehain-killing system operating in freezing works throughout ,the Dominiofl was given by workers engaged in various sections of the industry. Eegarding earnings, witnesses produced statements ahowing average weekly wages over varying periods ranging from £3 3s 7d to £3 14s lld. This closed the case for the employees, and the Court adjourned until to-morrow.