THE SLAUGHTERMEN'S AGREEMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9693, 18 January 1910, Page 5

THE SLAUGHTERMEN'S AGREEMENT.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, January 17. The agreement- arrived at in the slaugtermen's dispute is for five years. The employers have agreed to pay the wages demanded in the case of the sheep and lambs. The rates for beef are not varied while in regard to the conditions of killing, which vary materially in different factories, these are brought into line. Two of the most vexed questions dealt with were the provisions of learners and questions of preference to unionists. Satisfactory provision was made for learners being taught, and for the rate of pay for instructors; there to begone learner to ten slaughtermen. The standard of competency was also fixed. As regards preference to unionists, whilst this is conceded the rules of the federation rate to give an open door to all workers of good conduct not indebted to any kindred union. Mr M. J. Reardon, secretary of the Federation, in an interview, said that the main features of the terms of peace, to which both parties have agreed, are:— Killing rate for sheep, 25s a hundred. employers, in their recent statement proposed 235). No fines for damage done to hides or carcases during the slaughtering operation. (The employers asked for fines in cases of carelessness).

An eight-hours day. The employers asked ihat the range of hours should be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with payment for certain waiting and overtime after eight hours had been worked. The men proposed Btos as th e ordinary working hours from Monday to Friday, and not later than 1 p.m. on Saturdays. From Monday to Friday > not more than one hour overtime is to be worked. Oo Saturdays four hour overtime may be worked, but in no case are the men to be kept on later than 4 p.m. The men have now recognised the right of the employers to atarjt the day at 7 or 8 a.m.—overtime, at the rate of time and a quarter, to be paid after eight hours have been worked, measured from the starting time, 7 or 8 o'clock. Waiting time is to be paid at the rate of 2s an hour. If, for example, the men agreed on one day to start work at 7 o'clock next morning, and assembled .at the works only to hear that a start was not to be made till 11 o'clock, they would be entitled to four hours' waiting time, according to Mr Keardon's account of the new agreement. This agreement, he says, is practically the same as the old oi.e except that the employers have an hour to "come and go on." One learner to ten qualified slaughtermen. Thf employers originally asked for one to eight, and the union one to fifteen.