DISPUTE SETTLED

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10613, 11 June 1920, Page 6

DISPUTE SETTLED

AT CONCILIATION COUNCIL BREWERS & KINDRED TRADES ARRANGE TERMS. Tho AA’cllington Brewers’, Bottlers’, Bottle AA’ashers’, ’and Aerated Water Employees’ dispute was heard before a Conciliation Council yesterday, the Commissioner (Mr AA’. Newton) presiding. The assessors were as follow: For tho employers, Messrs E. Gallichan, J. Laing. and H. Siramonds; for tho employees, Messrs T. Johnson, S. AA’ickovic, and Mr W. A. AA’. Grenfell acted as agent for the employers, and Mr J. Reid for the union. CLAIMS OF UNION.

In their claims-the union specified a 44-hour week. A minimum wage was sought of £4 os per week for machine bottlers, and £4 per week for general workers. For casual workers 2s 4d per hour was asked. Provision was sought for youths ns follows: 15to 16 years of age, 80s per week; 16 to 17, 40s; 17 to 18, 50s; 18 to 10, 555; 19 to 20, 60s per week. For all work done on holidays tho sum of 2s per hour was demanded in addition to the ordinary wage. It was also asked that the proportion of youths to men should not exceed ono youth to every five men or fraction thereof. In regard to holidays, a fornightly period on full pay was asked for each worker after the completion of twelve months’ service, with a proper proportion of that period for all workers who completed three months’ service. The claims asked that the demands should not apply to- female labour, which might ho employed as hitherto, provided women were not engaged in bottling aerated waters, cordial or alcoholic beverages, except at tho rates provided. Under tho present award tho union is working a 48-hour week. Mr Read said that tho new demands in regard to hours was based upon the concession of tho Arbitration Court in other trades. FOR THE EMPLOYERS. Air Grenfell pointed out that that was not consistent with the_ court’s provision in the same trade -in other districts. The union was asking for the hours to be amended according to tho conditions granted in other industrial cases, but was not prepared for the same terms as other aerated water awards. . , Aifter some discussion tho union s representatives accepted the offer of tho employers of a 44-hour week for ertht months of tho year and a 48hour week for tho remaining four months. THE SETTLEMENT. The minimum wages payable to the several classes of workers were decided upon as follows; Machine bottlers, £3 5s per week; general hands, first two months, £2 15s per week: next two months, £3; thereafter, £3 3s. In addition to these rates it was agreed that there should be paid a bonus of 10s per- week unless and until the court should otherwise order; these rates to be doomed to cover and he in anticipation of any bonus that might bo considered to have accrued to workers for the period ending on November Ist next. The employers agreed that should there ho any reduction in tho cost of living during tho period no application would bo made for a reduction in wages. Tho rate for casuals was fixed at Is 9d per hour. Youths’ wages were settled as follows: —Up to 16 pears of ago, £1 ■los; 16 to 18, £2 10s; 18 to 20, £2 12s 6d.

The proportion of youths to men was fixed at pne to three.