DAIRY WORKERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 January 1921, Page 7

DAIRY WORKERS.

WAGES AND CONDITIONS. 1 L i APPLICATION FOR AWARD. > NO REDUCTION IN PAY. An application for an industrial award! covering butter, cheese and casein work-, ers, filed by the Taranaki Dairy Fac- : tones’ Industrial Union of Workers, and I the counter offers made by the dairy • companies, wer? dealt with at a sitting of the CondiliAtion Council in New Ply-[ mouth yesterday. The Commissioner j (Mr T. Harle Giles) presided, and the; assessors for the union were: Messrs.; F. J. Lyons, A. Tynan, and W. A. Fos- \ ter. The representatives for the com- • panies were: Messrs. H. D. Forsyth, Ja-j cob Marx, Arthur Morton, and T. H.; Penn (secretary). ; In opening the proceedings, the Com-1 missioner remarked on the fact that the i application concerned the institution of! an award in a district in which one did; not already exist. The most recent; award affecting the industry was that! made in the Auckland district, and in; looking through the counter proposals • of the employers he found that a good! deal of them were exactly on the lines) of the northern award. Mr. Giles ex-. pressed the hope that the proceedings; would be marked by a conciliatory spirit, • and that a settlement would be arrived; at. The industry was a very flourishing one and he thought there could be no argument brought forward of hard times or inability to pay a living wage. In the speaker’s opinion the definition of a living wage was an amount that would enable a worker to live decently, support his wife and children, and put a little away “for a rainy day.” Applications for exemption for a num- • her of companies were made by Mr. C. i H. Wynyard on the ground that the par- ! ties were outside the Taranaki industrial district, and the exemptions were granted. The parties struck off were the Maoriland Dairy Company, Wanganui; Wanganui Fresh Food and Ice Company, Turakina, Westmere, Rapanui, Brunswick, Mokoia, Kai Iwi, Wangaehu and Waverley dairy companies. THE DEMANDS.* The principal items in the application filed by the Union were as follows: — Hours of ‘Vyork.—A week’s work to consist of six days. A full day to consist of time taken in manufacturing the article. One man may be employed to every 6401 b of cheese manufactured daily. Overtime and Holidays.—One full day’s holiday to be allowed all workers. First assistant, second assistant and buttermaker to receive two weeks’ holiday on full pay during slack season. For time worked on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, the Sovereign’s birthday, and Dominion Day, double time to be paid, or one day extra allowed at end of season for each of these days worked. Wages.—From 1 to 8 vats: First assistant, £5 10s per week; second assistant, £5 per week; third assistant, £4 15s; casuals, £4 ss. From 1 to 7 vats: First assistant, £5 7s 6d per week; second assistant, £4 17s 6d per week; third assistant, £4 17s 6d per £4 ss. From 1 to 6 vats: First assistant, £'s 5s per week; second assistant, £4 15s; third assistant, £4 7s 6d; casuals, £4 ss. From 1 to 5 vats: First assistant, £5 2s 6d per week; second assistant, £4 12s 0d; casuals, £4 ss. From Ito 4 vats: Firet assistant, £6 per week; second assistant, £4 10s; casuals £4 ss, From 1 to 3 vats: First assistant, £4 15s per week; second assistant, £4 7s 6d; casuals, £4' 5s Where 1 vat only: Assistant £4 10s per week.

Whey butter-makers in companies - of over 5 vats collectively, £5 per week of six days; under 5 vats, £4 10s per week of six days. Whey separator man in branches, £4 15s per week. Where relieving man is employed his pay shall be at the rate of £5 per week of six days. Where six men or over are in a batch a cook to b'e supplied. Wages to be for such cook £2 per week, paid by company. Balance, if any, to be paid by men in batch. Casual labor may be employed for not more than one calendar month at 2s per hour. Butter Factories and Casein.—’Buttermaker, £5 per week; first assistant, £4 10s per week; casuals, £4 ss. Man in charge of casein manufacture, £4 15s; casuals. £4 ss. General Conditions.—ln branch cheese factories where no separator man is employed and cream is to be carted by men, it shall be done in other than working hours and paid for at the rate of 6d per mile (both ways inclusive). Means for cartage to be provided by the company. i In factories where packing is done unless special packer is employed, men employed as packers shall be paid at the rate of s|d per crate. Housing and allowances—ln factories of over 200 tons output free house shall be supplied to first assistant and buttermaker respectively. Such houses to consist of not less than four rooms, also bathroom and wash-house; hot and cold water service to be laid on. Quarters for single men to be free of rent and to the satisfaction of the Inspector of Factories. Allowances shall be to single men, 21b butter, 21b cheese, milk and fuel. Married men to receive 31b butter, 31b cheese, milk and fuel in sufficient quantities.

COMPANIES’ COUNTER PROPOSALS. The dairy companies made the following counter proposals:— Hours of Work.—(a) Butter factories from August 15 to April 15, 69 hours per week of seven days; from April 16 to August 14, 44 hours per week of seven days, (b) Cheese factories, from August 1 to March 31, 65 hours per week of seven days; from April 1 to May 31, 48 hours per week of seven days; from June 1 to July 31, 38 hours per week of seven days, (c) Creameries: The hours of work in creameries shall be arranged between the employers and their respective workers, (d) Employers shall be at liberty to make special arrangements as to the number of hours to be worked with the drivers of horse and motor vehicles. WAGES The maximum rates of wages shall be: (a) Butter factories where manager and 6 to 9 hands are employed, first assistant and (or) butter-maker, £4 12s 6d per week; second assistant, £4f all others, £3 9s per week. Where manager and 3 to 5 hands are employed, first assistant -ttF others £3 9s per week; manager uurr one or two hands and general hands. £3 9s week.

| Cheese factories: Seven vats and over: | First assistant, £4 12s 6d; second asIsistant, £4 6s 6d; third assistant, £3 ‘lBs 6d; ail others, £3 9s; 4 to 6 vats, •first assistant, £4 9s 6d; second, £4 2s; I all others, £3 9s; two to three vats, J first assistant £4 6s 6d; remainder £3 y9s; one vat, general hands, £3 9s. 1 During the “off season” workers who . are then employed in or about cheese factories shall receive the same rates of - pay as they received immediately prior ; to the factory closing down. Creameries, —With r ?commodation fuel j and milk, or £1 2s 6d weekly. Where ■ average daily supply uir.i.ig December ; exceeds 1200 gallons, i-ianager not less ’ i£3 2s 6d per week for the succeed- • ing twelve months, with fuel, milk, and ■ living accommodation; creameries where daily supply does not exceed 1200 gal- | lons are exempt from award; whefe r daily average supply during December is 2000 gflloM, or number of suppliers ex- ; coeds 50, an additional three shillings | per 'week shall be paid to the manager; ■ where, daily average is 2500, or suppliers ; exceed 75, an additional Os per week; ; 3000 gallons, or more than 100 supj pliers, additional per week. In the ; event of creamery manager having to • | find his own house, additional 12s Gd per I week. i Engine-drivers.—Where second class ; certificate required, £4 2? fid, driver to i effect own repairs; stokers, £3 9s. ; Youths.—ls to 16 years, £1 per ; week; .16 to 17 years, £1 ss; 17 to 18 j years, £1 10s per week; 18 to 19 years, i £1 los per week; 19 to 20 years, £2 ? per week. : In addition to the above minimum ■rates, adult male workers, 9s per week; i youths, 5s per week; hourly workers, twopence per hour. Creamery managers making casein.— Up to and including 800 gallons, during December £1 per week in addition to ordinary pay; 800 to 1600 gallons, £1 10s additional; 1600 to 2400 gallons, £1 17s 6d additional; over 2400 gallons, £1 2s 6d per week in addition, and an as- : sistant at not less than £2 per week; ; when milk for casein received otherwise ! than daily, not less than I2s 6d in ad- • | dition to ordinary wages. Holidays.—Every worker who shall have worked not less than eight months i during the same year for the same employer sfaall be entitled to two weeks’ holiday on full pay, and holiday of pro- , portionate duration for employees who i have worked less than eight months but over two months. Holidays to be taken during the off season. Other matters covered included accom- , modation, and supply of goods (at wholesale rates). iSe award to conj tinue in force until July 31, 1922. THE DECISION. > > After a lengthy discussion, which 1 lasted all day, on the suggestion of the Commissioner, the following basis of 5 settlement was reached: —That the ast sessors for the employers agree to re- ‘ commend to the members of their union 1 that the existing rates of wages paid by J the different companies in the Taranaki 3 industrial - district be not reduced pend--5 ing a radical change in the market price > of dairy produce, and if the companies ’ agree no award will be made, and the 1 dispute dropped On behalf of the employers’ represent- ‘ atives, Mr. Morton moved a ’ vote of thanks to the Com- ’ missioner for his able assistance, and stated that it was no fault ’ of Mr. Giles’ that the dispute was not definitely settled. The speaker stated - that the companies were always agree- ’ able to comply with any reasonable re--1 quest, and give due consideration to all matters. ' Mr. Lyons (Workers’ Union), in seconding the motion, thanked the Com1 missioner for his patience and careful } consideration of matters during the proceedings. In replying,. Mr. Giles said he hoped the dispute would be amicably settled on the basis as drafted out