DAIRY WORKERS' NEW AWARD

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5318, 3 February 1947, Page 5

DAIRY WORKERS' NEW AWARD

(Press Assn-

• H ' • ' - • 'endorsed by men principle of eighthour day

-By Telegraph — Copyrirjht.)

HAMILTON, Last Night. The terms of the agreement reached at cpriciliation proceedings heard in Wellington in connection with the dairy factory employees' dispute were endorsed by a meeting ' of 250 members of the Auckland branch of the Dairy Fac« tory Employees' Union held in Frankton last night. There were reservations, however, regret being expressed that certain conditions included in the claims had not been incorporated into the agreement. Mr. K. Baxter, secretary of the Federation of Labour, addressed the meeting 011 the general wage structure and the policy of the federation in respect to various problems facing the industrial world to-day. Mr. V. Booth, of Waharoa, presided. The terms were discussed by Mr. L. D. Robertson, secretary of the Auckland branch of the mnion, and he answered numerous questions. Mr. Robertson said the principle of the eight-hour day had been written into the award. Shift lnoirey had been increased from 2/- to 2/6 a day, and workers who eommeneed duty before 5 * a.m. would now receive an extra 2/6 a day.

A minimum .break of ei&ht hours between shifts was provided for, and if in the event of emergency, this was lessened, double, time would be allowecl for the time by which the period was shortened. There was provision for a weekly roster of days off, to be posted a week before the days began. ■ Considerable changes had been made in the clauses relating to 'Saturday and Sunday worlc. Time worked 011 Satur-days would be paid at time and a-half, and Sunday work at double rates. Holiday and Sunday work rates were in line with those included in the Factories' Act — double^ and treble time respectively. Mr. Robertson said the general wages rates had been increased by 10s. a week, and in some easds, by more. Additional -classifications of workers had been provided. Wihere— single men 'were charged for accommodatioii, tbe conditions of the /Agricultural Workers' Act operated, except in regard to furniture and utensils. This meant a general improvement in the living conditions of the men. The general conditions written into the agreement included the provision of hand protectors forcan washing and respirators for packers of dried milk powder and m ilk powder made by the spraying process. The terms of the award are to operate from February 10, 1>947, to March 31, 1948. Agreement for retrospective pay on a flat basis of 10s. a week for 13 weeks as from February 10 is also included.