HC Deb 11 September 1942 vol 383 cc525-7
56. Mrs. Cazalet Keir

asked the Minister of Supply whether an agreement has been reached this year by his Department

Minimum rates of wages of female industrial employees of 21 years of age and over, employed in Royal Ordnance Factories, resulting from agreements between the Ministry of Supply and the National Union of General and Municipal Workers and the Transport and General Workers' Union.

Classes of work and Groups of Factories. Basis of Wages Assessment. Minimum Rates for a 47-hour week. Approximate Percentage of R.O.F. Female Employees.
s. d. per cent.
Light engineering work commonly performed by women:— National Schedule of Women's Standard Rates. 43 0 18
Fuzes, Small Arms Ammunition, Small Arms.
Filling Propellants and High Explosives into containers:— National Schedule of Women's Standard Rates. 46 0 56
Filling Factories.
Manufacture of Shells and certain Cartridge Cases:— Rate for Youths of 20 years of age. 51 0 4
Shell Factories.
Manufacture of propellants, explosives, and acids—previously carried out by male labour:— 80 per cent. of men's rates. 57 0 12
Explosives Factories.
Manufacture of guns, gun barrels, gunmountings, etc.:— Men's Basic rates plus 75 per cent. of men's industrial bonus. Provinces 10
Gun Factories. 59 0
London
62 0
Note 1—The rates payable for gun manufacture are by agreement with the Trade Unions applied specially to other classes of work at two factories, and the percentages shown above allow for this.
Note 2—These rates are applicable to women employed on production and to manual workers ancillary to production.

57. Mr. David Adams

asked the Minister of Supply the terms of the trade union agreement concluded in certain Government owned factories fixing wages for qualified women?

Mr. Assheton

As the answer is rather long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Adams

Can the hon. Gentleman state whether the wages paid to these women are identical with those paid to men for similar work?

granting 62s. or 63s. to women working in Royal Ordnance factories, as either a basic rate or a guaranteed weekly wage; and if so, will he give particulars?

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (Mr. Assheton)

As the particulars which my hon. Friend desires are somewhat long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement of the minimum rates of wages paid to women workers in the Royal Ordnance factories.

Following is the statement:

Mr. Assheton

It would be impossible to answer that Question shortly, and if the hon. Member will read the agreement, which will be circulated, perhaps he will be able to make the comparison.

Mr. Adams

Will the comparisons with men's wages be given in the REPORT?

Mr. Assheton

Yes, Sir, a good many of the comparisons.

Mr. Thorne

Will the statement include the payment of women for the jobs they are doing at wages which have been fixed by the trade unions?

Mr. Assheton

Perhaps the hon. Member will look at the reply and then, if necessary, put down a further Question.

Following is the answer:

I presume that the agreement referred to is that between the Ministry of Supply and the Amalgamated Engineering Union, reached on 28th November, 1941, to provide, as a wartime measure, for the employment of women on certain work which had hitherto formed part of a skilled mechanic's job.

This agreement provides, inter alia, for payment as follows:— (a) In any cases in which women carry out the entire job of a mechanic without special assistance, guidance, or supervision: The standard basic rate and bonus applicable to skilled mechanics of the grade concerned. (b) Where women carry out such work either with special assistance, guidance, or supervision, or, (c) Where work which once formed part of mechanics' duties has been split away from the rest:

From 75 per cent. to 85 per cent. of the men's basic rates and bonus according to the degree in which they show themselves able to do the men's job without special assistance, guidance or supervision.