THE LABOUR WORLD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8361, 22 February 1913, Page 11

THE LABOUR WORLD

(Contributed by ‘ TDcxnos. ” ) The Match ' Factory Employees' Union has arrived at an agreement with the employers on all points. The expiring award for this union is over ten years old, and to all intents and purposes had become a dead letter until Mr B. J. Carey took the matter in hand quit© recently, with the above most satisfactory The union has been successful also in securing a compulsory preference to unionists, which will do away with the bitternesses which crop up on the non-unionist question. The Dunedin and Invercargill Paint--1 ers and Decorators' Unions have been awarded an increase in wages from Is 3d to Is per hour. In the case of the Invercargill painters, however,, the award does not come into operation until October next. The badge denoting members of the .Australian Journalist®* Association is daily becoming more and more a part of the pressman's equipment. Its recognition .by persons in authority is a compliment to the association and evidence that its influence is extending. The District Concil has been most successful this last week in obtaining signatures to the Saturday half-hohday petition. At the BasU /Reserve on Saturday last 700 signatures were secured, and on Wednesday, 19th inst., 700 odd signed at the Newtown Park. The lists Which have been distributed around town are also coming m very well. This (Saturday) afternoon and evening arrangements have been made to have two tables at the street corners in Cuba street, when it is hoped to secure nearly 1000 more signatures. The general feeling amongst the public on this occasion seems to bo m favour of a general Saturday afternoon balfholiday. The annual- conference of the freezers, manure workers and allied trades was held in the Trades' Hall, Wellington, on the 18th and 19th mst. The business of the conference was to discuss wages fl-Tid conditions connected with the industry; also to draw up proposals to fee submitted to the employer* when, the awards now in existence ha.ro expired- ' At a meeting of the Plumbers and Gfasfittors’ Union on Tuesday evening last, it was resolved unanimously to support the Saturday afternoon halfholiday proposal. Organiser McGowan, of the Federated Implement and Ironworkers Union, visited the steamer Morayshire while she was berthed at Port Adelaide recently, and addressed the immigrants bound for New Zealand on unionism, advising them to consult their respective organisations immediately upon discharge. The address should be productive of good results. A full agreement has been arrived at between the Huntly Engine-drivers Union and the Taupiri Coal Company. The main provisions are a forty-eight->u«ti» week, and an all-round increase in, wages. Important provisions have been inserted relating to unionists and strikes. Regarding the latter, fitnngent provisions have been made to prevent strikes or lock-outs, the union agreeing that it would not, as a union, recognise, take part in or assist in any strike without* first having taken a secret ballot, at which three-fourths of its members had agreed to strike. It Via, alan been agreed to that in the event of a strike six weeks’ notice must be given to the employers. Thn annual conference of the Federated Plumbers and Gasfitters’ Association will bo held in Auckland, commencing on Easter Saturday. Delegates from all over the Dominion will be in attendance. Messrs G. Coleman and H. Thompson will represent the Wellington Union. The principal business or the conference will be to draft a Dominion award for the trade. The conference will elect the workers’ representative on the ■ Plumbers’ Board under the Plumbers’ Registration Bill passed last session. On Tuesday, March 25th, the delegates are to meet the master plumbers in conference to discuss > matters of general interest to both sides. Mr Giles, Conciliation Commissioner, is to act as chairman at this conference. The unions affiliated to the Barrier Labour Federation are taking a referendum on the question of members working with non-unionists. The federation claims that every individual who is earning his or her living on the Barrier should contribute towards the upkeep of the union catering for his or her calling. The Barrier Labour Federation is prepared, with the assistance of the affiliated unions, to fight the matter to a finish. The Victorian Shop v. Warehouse Employees’ Federation and the Grocers’ Union have decided to amalgamate. It has been decided that 'the amalgamated union shall be called tie “Distributing Trade Employees’ Ifederation.” It is proposed in the that the amalgamated union shall consist of two sections—one section embracing employees in the grocery trade, provision trade, crookeryware, patent medicines, drugs, tea, coffee, cocoa, and fish salesmen, and the No. 2 section taking in all others. All the existing officials would be retained under the new arrangement. Commercial women may profit by the example of the Melbourne pioneers in the cause of obtaining better pay for women clerks and equal pay for equal work. The consternation that prevailed in commercial houses when the award of the wages board for stenographers and clerks was made known is dying down. It was stated that most of the women engaged in clerical work would be dismissed, and that there would be piteous scenes when the ex-employees endeavoured to find other positions. As a matter of fact, very few girls have lost their employment, although many have been sacked temporarily. The Typists’ Association and the Clerks’ Union urged clerks and stenographers to join their numbers before the fatal day when all those engaged in clerical work had to bo paid 48s per week of 48 hours, and all typists and stenographers 45s per week of _ 421 hours. Girls who had had positions as typists announced that they had had notice to leave, as their employers could not pay them the standard wages. Women who were Qoing book-keeping were told that their services would bo dispensed with from that date, and that men would be employed to do their work. Most of those who were dismissed have, however, now found positions in other offices at the full award rate of wages, and the award is looked upon as a great blessing by the women clerks.