FRUIT CANNING WAGES

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20733, 17 February 1939, Page 8

FRUIT CANNING WAGES

AGREEMENT BY CONCILIATION ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE TERMS (By Telegraph.—Press Association) HASTINGS, Friday Agreement w;as reached in Conciliation Council yesterday in the dispute created for the purpose of making an award for the industry of preparing, pulping and canning of fruit and vegetables and the manufacture of allied products, including cider and unfermented fruit juice. Wage rates agreed to were:— Youths, 16 to 16* years, £1; 16* to 17, £1 ss; 17 to 17*. £1 10s; 17i to IS, £1 15s; 18 to 184, £2; 18* to 19, £2 ss; 19 to 19*. £2 10s; 19* to 20. £2 15s; 20 to 21. £3; adults, £4 10s for a 40-hour week, with a 10 per cent increase during the 44hour week period. Females start at 17s 6d a week, rising at six-monthly periods by is and increasing thereafter to £2 7s 6d for a 40-hour week. The starting rate for adult women without previous canning factory experience is to be £1 16s, rising by half-yearly increases of 4s to the full rate. The award will come into operation on the first pay day after March 1 and will expire on April 11, 1939. The workers asked for a short-term award so that the expiry date should coincide with other awards in the industry.