WAGES INCREASE

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1940, Page 6

WAGES INCREASE

COUNTIES' ATTITUDE A request to local bodies not to pay to employees, pending decision on an application for exemption of county councils, the five per cent. wages increase made under . the general order by the Court of Arbitration, has been made by Mr. H. J. Bishop, secretary of the New Zealand County Councils' Industrial Union of Employees. The letter which was before the Inglewood County Council yesterday pointed out that the bonus was based on the rate prescribed in the award and a worker being paid above the award rate received only the amount, if any, required to bring his wage to the equivalent of the award rate plus five per cent. The bonus applied to wages and all special payments, prescribed in the award, including tea mcney, dirty work, country allowance, etc. Provision was made, in the regulations under which the court acted, for the exemption of any specified industry or

mm mm - m-m"m -mrarmrm • — — - — industries and application for the exemption of county councils was being lodged. Councils were requested not to pay at the increased rate in the meantime but to provide for payment in the event of the application for exemption being unsuccessful. The five per cent. represented about £26 per month to the council, which had commenced to pay the extra five per cent. before the request was received, it was stated.