THE SLAUGHTERMEN’S DEMANDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2714, 20 January 1910, Page 7

THE SLAUGHTERMEN’S DEMANDS.

THE NEW AGREEMENT.

The terras of settlement which, were agreed to last Friday night at the conference between representatives of the meat companies and delegates of the Slaughtermen’s l Federation, are:— I—HOURS OF WORK.

(a) Unless otherwise mutually agreed upon, the ordinary hours of work shall be worked between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. (b) An ordinary day’s work shall not exceed eight hours. (e) On Saturdays, ordinary work shall not exceed four hours, irrespective of the hour of starting work. (d) Intervals for meals shall be as at present customary at the various sheds, unless otherwise mutually arranged. 2 RATES OF PAY. (a) Freezing sheep and lambs, 25s per 100; rams other than ram lambs, od per head ; lambs requiring back sets, 5d per head; cattle 2s per head ; dead cattle os per head; pigs, up to 1201bs, Is per head; pigs, 1211bs and over, Is 6d per head; calves, up to 1301bs, Is per head; calves, 131lHs and over, Is 6d per head; potters, sheep 20s per 100; potters, lambs, 18s per 100. (b) Wages to be paid weekly or fortnightly as in practice in the different works. 3- TIME. In each case when slaughtermen are required to wait for work after the arranged time for starting work, they shall be paid at tbe rate of 2s per hour for all time so occupied in waiting. Slaughtermen to wait lo minutes in the event of a cut-out, but after that time 'to be paid at the rate of 2s per hour for all time so occupied. Time to count from the time the last man cuts out. 4 SLAUGHTERMEN’S WORK. The killing and dressing of sheep and lambs shall consist of killing, removing tongues, taking off skins, including wool portion of bead and shanks with wool pieces, taking insides out, wiping and thoroughly cleansing carcases, putting on butchers’ tags, putting on neck-strings, hanging' off and taking out sweetbreads. 5 DAMAGE TO SKINS, ETC. In the event’ of any worker, either through carelessness or neglect, damaging any skins, hides, or carcases, the foreman in charge shall have tbe right to restrict the hourly tally of any such worker, or he may instantly dismiss such worker. 6—COMPETENT MEN. None hut competent men shall be employed as slaughtermen. 7—LEARNERS. The employers may employ learners in their respective . factories. Each learner shall be provided with a hook. The' hooks for learners shall be kept separate, as far as reasonably practicable, from tbe books for slaughtermen. Learners shall be employed in such proportion to slaughtermen that there shall not be more than one learner to every ten slaughtermen or fraction of the first ten. Each employer shall be entitled to have one learner in each beef slaughterhouse, and such learner shall be taken off tbe mutton board. Every employer may employ competent workers to teach such learners, or may arrange with slaughtermen who have hooks in the slaughterhouse to teach such learner's for such rate of remuneration as may be agreed upon. between the employer and the slaughtermen employed to teach such learners. Learners to be paid for all slaughtering done by them, at not less than the rates specified in this The rules as to preference to unionists shall apply to learners. A learner when capable of killing and dressing eight sheep or lambs per hour for freezing purposes to the satisfaction of the foreman butcher shall be classed as a competent slaughterman, and shall be transferred from tbe learners’ class. B—REGULATIONS. Each slaughterman shall be provided ■with a book, and not more than two men shall be allowed to work in any one pen. 9—BEEF BUTCHERS’ WORK. Put into pithing nen, stun or pith, bleed, take head off. take tongue out, hoist, ground, take hides off, skin and take tail off, take inside' and kidneys out. strip caul, wipe and clean, saw into sides, trim and hang back. 10— HOLIDAYS. First of January, Christmas Day, Boxing Day. Birthday of reigning Sovereign, Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Labor Day; also two other days, to be arranged to meet the requirements of the several localities. All work done on Christmas Day, Good Friday, or on Sundays shalpbe paid for at double' rates. Aff work done on- any of tbe other holidays shall be paid for at the rate of rat© and a half. 11— OVERTIME. All work done after 5 p.m. in works where the usual hour of starting is 8 a.m., or after eight ordinary working hours in works where' an earlier start has been mutually agreed upon shall bo paid for at the rate of rato and a quarter. No more than one hour’s overtime shall be worked on any one day, except on Saturday, when four hours shall be worked'if required. After four hours’ ordinary work on Saturday, overtime shall commence, but all work shall cease not later than 4 p.m. 12—PREFERENCE. Preference of employment, shall be given to members of the union: Provided that for the nurposes of this agreement the rules of the union at present in force at the date of the agreement with respect to the admission of members shall bo interpreted to mean that no ballot or other election shall bo required in the case of any person of good character, or who does not owe contributions to any kindred slaughtermen’s union: Provided further, that the entrance fee at no time shall exceed 10s. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the continued employment of workers now in tbe employment of any employer, or that such workers may not be or become members of the union. 13—DRESSING AND DININGROOMS. The conditions • in respect "of These matters in existence at the date of this agreement shall be accepted. 14—MANAGEMENT. Subject' to the special provisions of this agreement, the employers shall retain and hav.e full power to manage and control their own businesses and the conduct of their employees in connection therewith, and to make reasonable rules and regulations not inconsistent with tlie provisions of this agreement relating to the management thereof and the hiring, conduct, duties, and dismissal of persons in their employment. 15—MEN LEAVING WORK. Employees shall ask permission of the foreman before ceasing work at any time' other than the general time for ceasing work. • In order to cut out any mob which may be on hand at knocking-off time.

workers shall thereafter, if required, slaughter up l to three sheep or lambs per man at ordinary rates. 17—TERM OF AGREEMENT. This agreement shall come into force, so far as the two Wellington companies are concerned, on January 17, 1910, and in respect of ail the other companies on February 1, 1910, and shall continue in- operation for a period of three years'. 18—EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF AGREEMENT. The New Zealand Federated Slaughtermen’s Association further agrees by means of separate agreements to undertake and uso its best endeavors to renew tliis agreement in all its essential details at the expiration of the, abovementioned term for a further period of two years. 19—AWARD. That this agreement shall be forwarded to the Court of Arbitration, for the purpose of having its terms, conditions, and application embodied in an industrial award.