WORKERS' APPEAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 153, 30 June 1944, Page 6

WORKERS' APPEAL

TEMPORARY TRANSFER

DISPUTE OVER WAGES

Four employees of the Crum Brick and Tile Company, Limited, appealed at a sitting of the Auckland Industrial Manpower Committee yesterday against their temporary transfer to other work with the firm. On behalf of the appellants. Mr. J. Purtell. secretary of the Brick and Concrete Workers' Union, said that the men were burners and had been transferred to other work while repairs were being effected to the kiln. They worked on a roster 42 hours a week and were paid overtime rates for Saturday afternoons and double time for Sundays. The wages were pooled and each appellant received approximately £6 1/ a week. While temporarily transferred the men would be paid 2/5 i an hour for a 40-hour week with provision for working an extra two hours each week. It was contended that this was not fair as the intention of the regulations was that wages should not be reduced. Mr. R. Lydford, representing the manpower officer, said that, subject to appeal to the manpower committee, an employer could, with the permission of the manpower officer, transfer any worker from his usual work to other work in the same undertaking for which a lower rate of remuneration was payable. The appellants had been transferred to other work which involved working on Saturdays and Sundays. The men would not be receiving less than their present hourly rate of 2/si. Mr. Purtell: If Mr. Lydford maintains that employers have the right to transfer provided they have the consent of the manpower officer, I would like the committee to make a special note of that. Mr. Lydford: This committee is not concerned with industrial disputes. Everything required by the regulations has been done. Mr. W. J. Truscott. a member of the committee: If the award had stated that they were on so much a week they might have had an argument. The committee dismissed the appeals.