The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1943-12-16
LABOR NEWS FROM BRITAIN

ing since July on Charter for Do
nestle Workers I'm Hospitals, and this
Committee has formulated standards
Of employment which the Minister Of
Labour has accepted on behalf Of the
Government. The Committees chair
man was Sir Hector HetheringtOn, a
university professor who was for some
time an appointed member Of the
| Ministry of LabOur National Arbitra-
! ton Tribunal which operates in indus
| trial disputes. He is an expert in Trade
Board legislation and administration.
With him was Miss Dorothy Elliott,
who is National Officer of the Cen
eral and Municipal Workers Union.
and Mr. g. l.. Darbyshire who is an
executive officer of high standing in
the railway service.
This Committee was assigned the
task of formulating recommendations
on wages, living conditions, working
hours, and better amenities for the
for the many thousands of domestic
workers in hospitals, schools feeding
centres and similar institutions It's
recommendations have not been yet
generaliZed for application to workers
in private domestic service.
But the Minister of Labour is con-
tinuing his examination of the problem
of private domestic service, with spe-
cial reference to those households
which are affected by the need for do
mestic help in periods Of family sick
ness, childbirth and other conditions
proved by the Government for applica-
tion to the institutional workers in
domestic service will undoubtedly be
the foundation for the Minister'S ef-
forts to place domestic service in pri-
vate households on a better footing.
Hours And Holidays
Where there are properly negotiated
wage agreements for domestic workers
in the institutions named, this Commit
tee recommends that the Minister
should accept them and make them ap-
plicable in all cases where the inSti-
tutions require further domestic labOur.
In the absence OF such negotiated
agreements the Committee has laid
. down minimum rates and conditions of
service for the various grades of do
nestle workers in these institutions.
Amenities both for nOn-residential
and residential workers receive atten-
ton. The Committee emphasizes the
} need for adequate canteen facilities for
nonresident StaffS. \ standard OF
working hours, not to exceed 81
hour fortnight, is proposed for all
categOrieS of domestic workers whether
for resident or nonresident. Where
these workers have to work in excess
of the 96 hour fortnight, the Commit
tee proposes that they should be given
. the equivalent amsunt of time off in
; the next fortnight, or alternatively
should be paid overtime rates.
Holidays arrangements proposed by
the Committee include an annual leave
of at least one full working week with
pay. 1t is also recommended that these
workers should have six statutory
holidays, or compensatory pay. I'M
proved all-rOund payment in respect
of sickness is recommended, and the
, Committee urges that every effort
should be made to provide in these
institutions, suitable conditions and ac
cOmmOdatiOn and leisure for the do
mestic staff. This is necessary in the
, Committees view to attract domestic
workers into institutional employment
The Minister of LabOur, who has
long had Il personal interest as the
!, head of great trade union, in the or.
ganiZatiOn of workers employed in do.
nestle service, has welcomed these
recommendations and gave them effect
forthwith. His aim, as he explained
to the House of Commons, is to place
domestic service in the general eSti.
nation on the same footing as any
other industry.