TEA-ROOM WORKERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1923, Page 1

TEA-ROOM WORKERS.

AN AWARD ASKED FOR. The provision of an award for the Greyinouth Hotel and Restaurant Employees’ Industrial Union of Workers was applied for by the Union at Greymouth yesterday before Mr W. Newton. Conciliation Commissioner, when 39 linns throughout the West Coast were cited.

A peculiar feature was that the racing and trotting (lulls were cited. All of the clubs objected to their inclusion in the citation. All award is already in force for the hotel-workers, but the restaurant employees were not hitherto covered by ail award. The assessors were:- For the employers. Messrs G. U. Marker, I). J. Evans (Hokitika) and T. Sloe (Westport), with Mr J>. L. Hammond (Wellington) as agent; lor the Union. Messrs R. A. Ilrnoks (Christchurch), and J. Goodall. Mr liiooks said it« was proposed to substitute the Canterbury award for the claim put in. Mr .Hammond said that the rating dills objected In their inclusion, because they were not regular employers of restaurant employees. Many of the clubs themselves desired to have the tea-rooms. The women employed there were either girls or married women who wished to add to their pocket money. They were not regular employers, and it was unfair to the clubs that they should he hound (loan to regard them ns such.

The (|Uestion of the inclusion of rluhs and also the wages clause, wore deferred, and the conditions were discussed in detail without prejudice to a general decision later when all terms wore considered.

It was agreed that wages should he paid weekly or fortnightly by agreement. Forty-eight hours’ notice on either side was agreed up-oil. with the usual proviso regarding dismissal for misconduct, etc. Overtime rates as in the Christchurch award were agreed upon, except that the rate shall he time and a-half and double time alter four hours. The hoard and lodging clause, providing lor two substantial meals per working day, in lieu ol which ho shall pay a shilling per day extra il he provide only one meal, and 2s pel day if he provide none, was agreed upon. Special uniforms outside ol aprons and lacings, if. was agreed, should he laundered by the employer and remain his property. The probationer period was fixed at thiee months. The preference clauses were agred to. but the employers took exception to the clause, requiring that employers should, if requested by the organising sccivljiry of tho l nioii, simply liim \vitli :i list of the nanus of the im»mhi*rs oi the staff.

hi ivp-lv to Mr ]*rooks. Mr Hammoiul said that the employers would agree to the clause if a restriction ol twelve months were allowed. Mr Brooks sngge-ted thiee monLh-. but Mr llainuiond said he would not he prepared to agree to less than six months. Finally a period of six months was agreed upon, and the whole clause consented to. Regarding the scope ol the award, which the Union suggested should operate throughout the' Westland Industrial District, Mr Hammond said he would agree to it provided the racing eluhs \\ ere excluded. After the luncheon adjournment, and a conference between the parties, il was aimouiicod an agreement had been reached to the following a (loot: Standard wages as in the Canterbury award; exclusion tit the racing and Hotting (lulls during the award: also the exclusion of the “existing conditions'’ clause, and the inclusion ol a special condition for hours of work. The award to stand till December 31st.. 192 L Under the auard the head waitress (where three or more waitresses are employed' is to receive Cl 17s fid per week, and other waitresses £1 Ilk fid per week. Other wages will be adjusted t<> i he. award pi d ailing ir, Christchurch with similar conditions as to terms oi employment etc. 1 i"vision is made for mid-way waitresses at 17s per week, and for probationers tor a term of three months at 17s per week. The Commissioner expressed his satisfaction at the amicable manner m which the negotiations had been conducted. and the proceedings concluded with the formalities of signing up the various documents iuvolted.