BUTCHERS’ DISPUTE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 November 1940, Page 6

BUTCHERS’ DISPUTE

THE TROUBLE AT AUCKLAND NO AGREEMENT REACHED. DEMANDS REFUSED BY EMPLOYERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 7. No agreement was reached at the conference of representatives of the Auckland Master Butchers’ Association and the Auckland Butchers’ Industrial Union of Workers held today to discuss the workers’ wages grievances. At a special meeting of workers held last Sunday a resolution"was adopted in favour of a strike in the event of the grievances not being settled by this weekend. Another meeting of workers is to be held on Sunday, when the position will be reviewed in the light of the conference. The workers’ grievances originated in their dissatisfaction with the wages fixed in the new award, which was made by the Court of Arbitration last month and came into operation on October 28. Wages for butchers and assistants in retail butchery shops and allied establishments were fixed at the same rates as in the old award. The claim filed by the union sought increases in wages ranging from 12s. 6d. for female assistants to £1 for first shopmen. At last Sunday’s meetings it was stated that several of the large employers had been voluntarily paying above award wages. One firm was stated to have made a bonus payment of ss. for seniors and 3s. for juniors for several weeks before the new award was made and another firm had made increased payments last week on the first pay day following its operation. In addition to seeking higher rates than those provided for in the award the workers are insisting that any increases granted voluntarily by employers, or as a result of agreement in conference, should be embodied in the award.

Those views were submitted by the workers’ representatives at today’s conference, but were rejected by the employers’ representatives. The following statement was issued by the employers at the conclusion of the discussions: “The employers stated that the dispute wgs considered by the Court of Arbitration. They, therefore, cannot agree to the demands of the union, as they are of opinion that the award should be binding on both parties. The employers are not prepared to depart from the terms of the award.” The secretary, of the union, Mr. W. E. Sill, who with three other delegates, represented the workers at the conference, said he could not make any statement, as a report on the conference had to be made to a general meeting of employees on Sunday. Meantime he could only confirm that no progress had been made. The award covers all butchers’ shops which employ labour within a 21-mile radius of Auckland. It is stated that fully 400 workers are involved in the dispute.

By request we publish the following information from the Department of Labour, Masterton, which sets out the award rate for butchers in both Auckland and Masterion. The figures relating to Auckland are from the last award issued in 1937 and the local figures a?e from an award issued in 1938. In both cases figures are subject to the addition of the recent 5 per cent cost of living bonus. Auckland: First shopman (or man in charge), £6 ss; second shopman, £5 12s 6d; all other assistants, £5 ss. Butchers over 21 years and under 22. £5 2s 6d per week. Masterton: First shopman, £6 ss; second shopman, £5 12s 6d; first smallgoods man, £6 ss; slaughtermen, £5 12s 6d. All other woikers, £5 3s 6d.