WAGES OF SHOP ASSISTANTS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2258, 2 April 1921, Page 3

WAGES OF SHOP ASSISTANTS

Substantial increases in the wages of shop assistants are sought by .the New Zealand Shop Assistants Federation. The federation is now asking that the wages of branch managers or manageresses shall be fixed at £8 10s per week, department managers or manageresses at £B, window-dressers at £7 10s, and travellers at ill. Tn the general wages clause the following weekly rates arc sought, for males and females respectively, present wages, inclusive of cost of living bonuses, being shown in parentheses :—For workers 16 years of age and under, entering without previous experience: First year of service, males £1 15s (£1 6s); females, £1 10s (£1 3s); second year, £2 5s (£1 13s fid), £2 (£1 (is); third your, £2 15s (£2 Is), £2 10s (£1 11s); fourth year, £3 10s (£2 18s), £3 (£1 10s): fifth year 4 £4 10s (£3 Cs), £4 (£2 Is); thereafter, for seniors, £fi (£4 8s), £4 (£2 Gs (id). Substantial increases are asked for storemen, and a new addition to the list is a provision for lift attendants (£3 15s per week). Temporary or casual hands, it is desired, shall he paid an addition, of 33 1-3 per cent, to the above rates. A minimum payment for such hands is suggested —25s in the ease of males and 20s in the ease of females. An alteration from five years to four years is sought in the period of service for female workers before they can be classed as seniors. Ihe Drapers’ and Clothiers’ Federation has been asked for a conference for the purpose of considering the new demands. Failing an agreement, proceedings will he taken under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.