REDUCTION OF HOURS

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24569, 18 May 1945, Page 4

REDUCTION OF HOURS

WATERSIDE WORKERS’ DECISION (P.A.) AUCKLAND, May 17. Starting this week-end, members of the Waterside Workers’ Union will not accept work on Saturday afternoons. This is a national decision and will be put into effect at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, and Port Chalmers. ‘‘We feel the strain of war and the terrific hours the men have worked in the last four years warrant them having Saturday afternoons off,” said the national president of the union and the president of the Auckland branch (Mr H. Barnes) this morning. “The effect of the decision is that the working week has been reduced from 71 to '67 hours. "The men have been working 11 hours daily from Monday to Friday, and eight hours on Saturday and Sunday. Most people will agree that 67 hours still represent a very substantial working week.” At onie time, added Mr Barnes, watersiders worked 84 hours weekly, but the changed war conditions were deemed to warrant a reduction to 71. It was considered that the latest change in the war situation permitted a further reduction of four hours. It was felt that the hours were still excessive, and it was hoped that the time was not far distant when another reduction would be possible. “Reduction Not Warranted’’ Captain R. E. Price, the Waterfront Control Commissioner, said the shipping position did not warrant any further reduction in hours. Shipping at present was called- upon to handle Increased production of both primary and secondary industries, and a greater quantity of imports with less coastal tonnage than in pre-war years. This meant that the quickest possible turnround of ships was essential to avert serious congestion. The commission last year, because of the long day of 12 hours, reduced the working day to 11 hours from Mondays to Fridays, and from 12 hours to 8 hours on Saturdays and Sundays, making a weekly maximum of 71 hours. Pre-war hourwere from 8 a.m. till 10 p.m; from Mondays to Fridays, and 8 a.m. to ■< p.m. on Saturdays, a total of 68 hours weekly, an hour more th.-.n the time now proposed to be worked.