BRICK WORKERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 755, 30 August 1929, Page 11

BRICK WORKERS

PROTEST AGAINST 12-HOUR SHIFTS arbitration dispute Asking lor increased wages and a general 48-hour week, the Auckland Brick Tile and Pottery VV orkers Union (Mr. J. Purtell) advanced its claim at the Arbitration Court this morning, before Mr. Justice Blair. The union’s claim was for a 48-hour week, said Mr. Purtell, and that the daily hours bo between 7-20 a_m. ana 4.55 p.m. from Monday to Friday, inclusive. and on Saturdays between < a.m. and noon. The reason why the union was not asking for a -H-hoUr week was because it was on an hourly rate, and a reduction of four hours' pay was a serious matter to the lower-paid man. The outstanding anomaly iq the existing award was a provision for a 12-hour shift —84 hours a week —for workers known as continuous burners. The burners were definitely in favour of an eight-hour shift. It was not fair that, because certain workers agreed 15 years ago that continuous burners should work a 12-hour shift, casual burners should start another period of work, after doing a hard’s day work, without being paid for overtime. It might be said that the present time was opportune for an improvement in the condition of workers,- as the relevant awards were expiring. Evidence wps given for the applicants to show that eight-hour burning not only proved a success, but resulted in better supervision. (Proceeding)