THE GROCERY TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1921, Page 7

THE GROCERY TRADE.

HOURS AND WAGES. THE EMPLOYEES’ CLAIMS. DISCUSSION ADJOURNED. The application of the Taranaki Retail Grocers’ ' Assistants’ Union for a new award, covering working hours and wages, was dealt with by a Council! of Conciliation which met at Nev Plymouth yesterday, and also the counter proposals which the master grocers filed in answer to the claims. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. T. Harle Giles) presided, and the assessors were:—Union: Messrs J. O’Grady (New Plymouth), R. McKean (Wellington) and W. Mortensen (Auckland); Employers: Messrs. W. Gilbert (Hawera) and C. Carter and F. E. Gadd (New Plymouth). The chief points at tissue were in regard to wages and hours, the Union seeking a 44-hour week, with a wage ranging from £1 16s to £5 10s, and the employers offering up to £4 5s fid for a 48-Eour wsek. EMPLOYEES* CLAIMS. Hours of Work.—The Union’s statement of the dispute set out the proposed hours of work as 44 per week —from 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on four days, 8.30 a.m. to C p.m. one day and from 8.30 a.m. to 12 noon on the day of the halfholiday. Any time in excess of the above to be deemed overtime and paid for at the rate of time and a half for the first two hours, and double time thereafter

Rate of Pay.—The wages stipulated for a journeyman was £5 10s per week, and for assistants, 16 years and under, entering the trade the following scale was proposed: First year, £1 15s; second year, £2 10s; third year, £3 2s fid; fourth year, £3 17s fid; fifth year, £4 12s fid; thereafter, full rate. The citation asked that any beginners from 17 to 18 entering the trade be treated as having entered on their second year; 18 to 19, as per scale for third year; 19 and over, as for fourth year. Sick pay, half wages. Casual hands: Senior male assistants, minimum 3s per hour; juniors, 2s per hour; all others, 25 per cent addition to the ordinary rates. Holidays.—-The following days were proposed to be recognised as holidays: New Year’s Day and the day following, Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday, Labor Day, birthday of the reigning sovereign, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the day following, Anzac Day and Peace Day. One holiday of twelve working days to be granted to each worker on full pay on the completion of each year of service. The citation contained the usual clauses as to payment of wages, terms of engagement, under rate workers. Clerks engaged in the office work of the employer and females solely engaged in confectionery departments are excluded from the provisions of any award. In regard to the term of the award the statement asked that it come into force on March 2 and remain in operation till September 30, 1922. THE COUNTER PROPOSALS.

The counter citation filed by the employers was an the lines of the existing award and amendments, as made in May, 1920, as follows:—The hours of work were set down at 48, and the rate of wages was £3 16s fid for journeymen, and for others: 15 to 16 years, 15s per week; 16 to 17, £1 0s fid; 17 to 18, £1 8s fid; 18 to 19, £1 19s 6d; 19 to 20, £2 10s fid; 20 to 21, £2 19s; 21 to 22, £3.55; over above full rate; minimum for drivers, 22 years and upwards, £3 16s fid. The above were subject to a bonus of 9s for adult males, 4s for females, others 4s 6d per week. Overtime to be paid for at the rate of time and a half, casuals Is 5d per hour. The following recognised holidays were listed: New Year’s Day and day following, Food Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday, birthday of reigning sovereign, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. EXEMPTION ASKED.

An application was made by Mr. J. G. Nichol (general manager of the Farmers’ Co-op. Society asking that the name of the firm be struck out of the list of the parties cited, except in the case of the Eltham branch and the business in High Street (Hawera). He said the other branches, which he desired the Commissioner to strike out, namely, at New Plymouth, Inglewood, Waitara, Stratford and Opunake, did very little grocery business, and. this was practically the result of a practice which the firm carried out of buying groceries from retail firms to oblige the clients who sent in orders which included grocery items. This application raised a good deal of discussion, the Union representatives objecting, contending that the Co-op. was engaged in the grocery trade at all the branches.

Eventually the Commissioner ruled that the firm’s name mfbst be left in the list of those cited, but pointed out to the applicant that if they did not do sufficient business to warrant their employees being classed as grocers’ assistants they would automatically be excluded from the provisions of any award made.

In addition to the assessors there were also present: Messrs. J. H. Lyons (secretary to the Union) and C. H. Wynyard (secretary of the Employers’ Association).

Before the council proceeded to discuss the claims the Union asswsors raised the question as to the right of the Employers’ Association to be repreen ted. They contended that the dispute should be settled by the representatives of the parties directly concerned. and that as the Employers’ Association was not a party, it should not interfere.

The Commissioner said he had always allowed both sides to have advocates in addition to the assessors, and he saw no reason to depart from this practice. One of the Union delegates expressed the opinion that much better results could be secured if advocates were eliminated and the settlement of disputes Jeft solely to the assessors for both parties. He believed that the presence of the Employers’ Federation had tended to disrupt conciliation, which was sinking to a low level. In reply to an employers’ delegate the Commissioner ruled that the secretary of the Union was entitled to remain, whether appearing as an advocate or otherwise.

The employees’ assessors retired to consider the point raised, having previously stated that they desired to have the 'association’s representative present. Eventually it was agreed that both UvanA and Wvnvard should

withdraw from the council. PROCEEDINGS ADJOURNED. After a couple of hours’ discussion in committee during which nothing definite was decided, proceedings were adjourned, till 10 a.m. on Tuesday.