WOOLLEN MILLS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 June 1938, Page 8

WOOLLEN MILLS

DETAILS OF NEW AWARD PERIOD OF TWO YEARS (By Telegraph—Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day. The Northern, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Southland Woollen Mills Employers’ Award was issued by the Court of Arbitration yesterday. The award applies to the manufacture of all woven and machine-knitted fabrics and hoisery produced from wool, silk, rayon or cotton. The ordinary hours of work are to be 40 in each week, to be worked from Monday to Friday, both days inclusive between the house of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., with an interval of not less than 45 minutes between 12 noon and 1 p.m. Adult male workers employed in making necessary preparations may be required to commence work not earlier than 7 a.m., provided that the daily or weekly hours are not to be exceeded without payment at overtime rates. Shifts may be worked outside the ordinary hours as required by the employer, but must be rotated. Clauses give the employer full control of the management of the factory. There is provision for the classification of workers in new processes.

The minimug wages fixed are:— For Adult Males:—(l) In woollen mills: Tuners and hosiery mechanic, 2s 9d per hour; wool-sorter, hand-loom weaver, warpers, spinners (woollen), assistant carders and assistant comber 2s 7d per hour; head pressers, woolscourers, blanket raisers, fettlers, hosiery scourers, yarn storemen, drawers and twisters-in, croppers, and chainminders, 2s s|d; wool blenders, yarn store assistants, finishing-room workers, dyehouse workers, milling-room workers, piece rollers, tenterers, wool dryers, comb minders, carding machinemen, and other adult males, 2s 4d. (2) In hosiery factories, other than woollen mills: Hosiery mechanics, 2s 9d; hosiery foot operators and leg operators, 2s 5Jd; hosiery pressers, hosiery oilers, hosiery cleaners, hosiery needle straighteners, hosiery vat polers, and other adult males, 2s 4d; flue-clean-ing shall be paid for at the rate of 3s 6d per hour or by contract. Adult Females. —Except where otherwise provided, the minimum wage for females who have served four years and upward shall be Is 3d per hour. Junior males’ wages are from 18s for the first six months to £2 8s for the eighth six months. Youths of from 18 to 21 years of age are to be paid from Is 2d per hour to Is 6jd per hour.

Junior females’ wages range from 17s for the first six months to £2 5s for the eighth six months. No worker of the age of 21 and upwards shall be paid less than the basic wage for the time being prevailing. Provision is made for piecework. In addition to statutory holidays, an annual holiday of one week on full pay on completion of each year's service is provided for. The award comes into force on June G for two years.