CLOTHING WORKERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 338, 25 April 1928, Page 13

CLOTHING WORKERS

FIVE-DAY WEEK AND HIGHER WAGES WANTED A five-day week and increased wages were the demands made by clothing trade workers in the Arbitration Court this morning, before Mr. Justice Frazer.

An annual holiday of two weeks, on full pav, was also asked for. Miss A. E. CQSsey, representing the employees, requested that a joint corn-, mittee be set up in each factory to adjudicate on questions affecting the employees and their working conditions. Evidence was called by Mr. J. C. Wright to show that the trade was not in a flourishing condition, and that further increases in production prices would rob the manufacturers of what small chance they still had of competing with imported articles. The requests of the cutters, trimmers and pressers were, formulated by Mr. W. S. Moxsom, who appealed for similar changes in the .award. In addition, fyead cutters and pressers who were trusted with responsible administrative duties were held to be deserving of a 10s increase in wages. General advances were asked for in the wages of all classes of cutters, pressers and trimmers. Increases in wages for apprentices, and factory tailoresses, shirt, silk, and white workers, and dressmakers and milliners, were sought as follow: First six months, 15s to 16s; second six months, 17s 6d to 18s 6d; third six months, £1 to £1 ss: fourth six months, £1 2s 6d to £1 10s; fifth six months, £1 5s to £1 15s; sixth, seven and eighth six months are now £1 7s 6d to £1 K>s and £1 15s respectively, £2 and upwards to the minimum for journey women. It was also sought to increase the journey women’s minimum from £2 5s to £3. The increases sought in tailors’, cutters' and pressers’ wages were as follow : First-class chart cutters (not at. present j included in award), £<; second-class shirt cutters, £4 11s 6d to £6; stock cutter and examiner, £4 7s 6d to £5 15s; machine pressers, £4 7s 6d to £6 10s; chart pressers (hand), £4 7s 6d to £U; stock pressers (hand) and under pressers, £4 17s 6d to £5 15s. Mr. Justice Frazer saM that the two sections would both be taken as part of the general award.