NOT SATISFIED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 114, 16 May 1942, Page 8

NOT SATISFIED

AUCKLAND DRIVERS

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY

"General dissatisfaction exists among members of the Auckland Drivers' Union concerning the recent announcement declaring the delivery of bread essential from the manufacturer to the shops and distributing depots," said the secretary of the union, Mr. L. G. Matthews, this morning. "The question of declaring all forms of road transport essential was discussed in Wellington recently by the Manpower Utilisation Council. Its findings will be discussed at a special meeting of the union called for Tuesday night next."

Mr. Matthews said that another matter causing widespread dissatisfaction and discontent was the failure of some employers working under the Defence Emergency Regulations to observe their terms. The regulations made provision for a 54hour week or six days each of nine hours, with additional hourly payment for all time worked in excess of nine hours a day. It was further provided that time worked on Sunday must be paid for in addition to the weekly rate whether or not the weekly hours of 54 had been worked or not. "We think that the Defence Emergency Regulations should be used exclusively for the purpose for which they were designed, but we find some employers utilising the order for purposes other than those connected with defence," said Mr. Matthews. "Protracted negotiations between the union and the employers concerned have so far failed to achieve the desired results. An appeal was made to the Building Controller, Mr. J. Fletcher, and his opinions in respect to the question will be placed before next week's special meeting."

In reply to an inquiry as to the possibility of releasing drivers of light vans for more essential work and employing women in their placc, Mr. Matthews said it was a matter for discussion by the union. A few women were already employed in the industry and the union had maintained for them full award conditions in conformity with the policy of organised labour—equal pay for equal work. Owing to the drain op. membership vacancies in the union had to be filled for the position of president and three members of the executive. These would be filled at the next meeting.