OVERTIME CLAIMED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 83, 8 April 1925, Page 8

OVERTIME CLAIMED.

MEN WORKED AIX NIGHT.

CASE FOR ARBITRATION COURT,

Application for the imposition of penalties of £10 •in each case of two alleged breaches of an award was made to the Magistrate's Court to-day by the Auckland branch of the Amalgamated Engineers' Union (*tr. McLiver), the defendant company being the United Repairing Company, of Auckland (Mr. McVeagh). The facts were that on the night of October 27. two men employed by the compaffy started work at 11 o'clock. They worked continuously till about 5 p.m. on the following day. In respect of their work from 11 p.m. till 8 a.m., they were paid the award rate for a night-shift. The company paid ordinary day rates for the hours between 8 a.m. and time of finishing.

The union held that overtime rates should have been paid at the rate of time and a-half for the hours between 8 a.m. and time, of finishing. The penalty of £10 was sought in each case. The" company held that the award could not be interpreted in this way, and that overtime was not due for the work performed after 8 a.m. Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., said that, with the consent of the parties, he would refer the question to the Arbitration Court for interpretation. The Arbitration Court had its own interpretation for its own awards. In view of the fact that the award was a Dominion award, and that the decision in this case would be farreaching in effect. Mr. McVeagh agreed that it would be as well to have the Arbitration Court's ruling.

The magistrate said lie would state the case for the Arbitration Court, which is to commence its next sitting in Auckland on April 20.