SECTIONAL AWARDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 438, 21 August 1928, Page 13

SECTIONAL AWARDS

STONEMASONS SEEK HIGHER WAGE RATE EFFECT OF iMPORTED MARBLE Hardships to the stonemasons’ trade brought about by the competition of imported marble were discussed at a Conciliation Council meeting yesterday, and to-day, when the Commissioner. Mr. P. Hally, presided over the Auckland stonemasons’ and monumental workers’ dispute. Agreement was reached on several points but sectional awards are deemed necessary. The award that expired on July 26 provides rates for building masons of 2s 4fd an hour, monumental masons 2s 3d an hour, head fixers and polishers 2s, and other workers Is lOd. The new claims are 4s 3d an hour for carvers, 3s 6d an hour for stonemasons and letter cutters, 3s 3d an hour for polishers and cemetery hands, 3s an hour for assistant cemetery hands and saw tenders, 2s 9d for yardmen, and 2s 6d for yardmen with less than six months’ experience. Other claims are for a five-days* working week of 40 hours, and the inclusion of a picnic day and the four days between Christmas Hay and New Year’s Hay a a additional holidays for which payment must be made. CONDITIONS ELSEWHERE The Commissioner said that the workers in tiie South seemed to be satisfied with the present award. Mr. Hunlop said that although the masons and stone workers in Wellington had worked under the same award for the past 16 years, the conditions were so good that the men were getting 3s. What was wanted was the same pay for all employees, all employers being compelled to give it, observed Mr Staley. Mr. Parkinson said increased wages could only result in more unemployment. Large quantities of marble wero being imported into New Zealand at a lower rate than it could be dressed and polished here. EMPLOYERS PROTEST The proposal that the hours of work should be reduced drew protests from the employers’ assessors, and the matter of working shifts was discussed at length. Further discussion was deferred until the employees’ assessors had obtained an indication of opinion on shift-work and the 40-hours week from employees. NEW SUGGESTION This morning the meeting was resumed, and a long discussion on various points of the award lasted until mid-day. The greater part of the clauses in dispute were agreed to, but owing to the great difference in the work of tradesmen employed on building construction and those workers employed at monumental business, it was found almost impossible to provide for all contingencies in one award. The parties agreed that an award should be made to cover each section, and in order to facilitate the matter, representative employers engaged in the building trade will meet workers engaged in that division and the same procedure will be adopted in respect to monumental workers. By this means it is expected that a more satisfactory arrangement with regard to the industry will be made.