SHEARERS’ AWARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1939, Page 7

SHEARERS’ AWARD

COMPLETE AGREEMENT REACHED PAYMENT ON BASIS OF WOOL PRICES. FORTY-FOUR HOUR WEEK. (By Telegrapn—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. In the Conciliation Council, Wellington. yesterday complete agreement was reached on the application of the New Zealand Workers' Union for a new Dominion award covering shearers and shed hands. Eventually the following hours were agreed to: — “The hours of shearing shall be limited to 44 hours a week; all shearing to cease at noon on Saturday of each week. The working hours on each da} to be mutually arranged, but so that not more than nine hours are worked on any one day. When shearing wet ewes, the shed manager may alter the intervals for smoking and extend the hours to the extent of 15 minutes in order to complete the cut-out. “The hours of work shall be between the hours of 5 a.m. and 5 p.m., or 5.3 C a.m. and 5.30 p.m. When 44 hours have not been worked in any one week shearing may continue till 4 p.m. on Saturday, provided that weekly paid shed hands shall be paid one fortyfourth of the weekly wage for each hour or part thereof worked after noon on Saturday.

“Note: The rates for the 1939-40 season under this clause shall be: —Foi pressers, Is lOld an hour; for shed hands, Is 8d an hour.” The following was agreed to as a basis of wage settlement: — "For the current season and for twe seasons thereafter, the rates for shearers and shed hands shall be adjusted in accordance with the movement o) wool prices as determined by the Government Statistician’s index numbers for export price of wool (calculated for June years), taking as a base a price index number 1000 equals 27s a hundred for shearers, and the corresponding rates prescribed on the scale of shed hands, cooks, and crutchers etc. A movement of 50 units in the index number up or down shall equal 6d a hundred for shearers and .jd an hour, or Is 6d a week, for shed hands, provided that the rate a hundred shall not fall below 20s, and the rate for shed hands shall not be reduced below the minimum rate as shown on the scale. All movements of the index numbers shall be calculated to the nearest 50 units above or below the base. “The determination of the index numbers for each year shall be the work of a committee consisting of the Government Statistician and one representative each of the employers and the workers’ unions. This committee, not later than August 1 in each year, shall announce the index number and the rates of pay for the forthcoming season.” i It was agreed that the rates of pay for 1940-41 and 1941-42 should be as follows: — “For the seasons 1940-41 and 1941-42, the rates for shearers and shed hands shall be adjusted in accordance with the movement of wool prices as determined by the Government statistician’s index numbers for export prices of wool (calculated for June years) taking as a basis a wool price index number of 1000 equals 27s for each 106 sheep shorn, and 300 index numbers equals 20s for each 100 sheep for shearers, and the rates prescribed for shed hands and other workers as set out on the sliding scale agreed on, a movement of one small square up oi down on the scale shall equal 6d a 100 for shearers and Id an hour or Is 6d a week for shed hands provided thai the rate a 100 for shearing shall not fall below 20s and the rate for shed hands and other workers shall not be reduced below those set out as the minimum on the chart: Shed hands, £2 7s 6d a week and Is 41 d an hour; cooks, £3 7s 6d a week and 13s 9d a day; cooks’ mates, £2 12s 6d a week and’l2s 6d a day; and pressers, £2 17s 6d a week and Is 6Jd an hour. Al! movements of the index numbers shall be calculated to the nearest 50 units above or below the bases.