SERVICE-CAR AND BUS DRIVERS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22418, 3 June 1938, Page 6

SERVICE-CAR AND BUS DRIVERS

NEW AWARD PROVISIONS MINIMUM WAGE OF £5/10/Conditions ~nd hours of work for drivers of buses engaged mainly in town and suburban passenger transport throughout the Dominion, also for ser-vice-car drivers, are fixed in an award just issued by the Arbitration Court. The wages clauses of the award are made effective from May 30, 1938, and the remainder of the award from June 1. 1938. Hours of work for bus-drivers are fixed at 80 a fortnight, and the maximum time which may be worked in any one week without payment of overtime is 44 hours. Daily hours are not to exceed nine, within a span of 12 consecutive hours; but special needs may be dealt with by a disputes committee, or referred to the Arbitration Court if an agreement is not reached. Three periods of 24 consecutive hours off duty must be allowed to each driver in each fortnight (two periods in one week and one in the other). An hour is allowed for meals, but this may be curtailed by arrangement to not less than half an hour. Overtime is provided for at the rates of time and a half for. the first four hours and double time thereafter. Except in the case of contract vehicles, all time worked between 2 a.m. and 5.30 a.m. must be paid for at the double time rate. The minimum wage for bus drivers, except where otherwise provided, is fixed at £5 10s a week. For service-car drivers hours ’of work are 88 a fortnight, and the maximum in any one week without payment of overtime is 48 hours. Daily hours must not exceed 10, to be worked within a span of 13 consecutive hours. One period of 24 hours off duty mpst be allowed to each driver in each week. The mimimum wage for ser-vice-car drivers is £5 10s a week. Overtime must be paid at the rate of time and a half for the first six hours and double time thereafter. For casual drivers of both buses and service-cars the award fixes wages of 3s Id an hour ordinary time, and 3s 7d an hour for any time in excess of 10 -hours on any one day. A general clause permits the employer to require any driver at any time to submit himself to a medical examination by a medical officer nominated by the employer, provided that such examination is at the employer’s expense.