TRAMWAYMEN’S AWARD

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25245, 25 July 1947, Page 6

TRAMWAYMEN’S AWARD

DISPUTES COMMITTEE ADJOURNS

MAJOR DECISIONS LEFT TO CHAIRMAN

(P.A) WELLINGTON. July 24. Wage rates, the Inclusion ol Sunday within the 40-hour week and various other outstanding issues remained unsettled, when the disputes committee under’ the Strikes and Loek Outs Emergency Regulations dealing with the national tramways dispute adjourned. A-decision on the points involved now becomes the responsibility of the chairman, Mr A. B. Rigg, a conciliation commissioner, who said at the end of the sitting that indications of his findings would not be available before Mr Rigg’s decision will deal with all major points, and will be binding on the parties; but because adjustments will be required in some centres to meet local conditions under certain clauses, the committee did not complete its sitting. An adjournment was taken, ( and in the meantime Mr Rigg will indicate to the parties the terms of his decision, the issue of which will be complete after the various local adjustments had been arranged. The employers’ representatives agreed to accept the amended claim of the union for meal reliefs for shift workers. It was agreed that shift workers will not be required or permitted to work for more than five and a half hours without being relieved for a period of at least 30 minutes in which to obtain a meal, nor shall they be relieved until at least three hours have elapsed since signing on. Fifteen minutes of each meal relief is tc be paid for by the employer. The parties also agreed on the spread of hours within which a shift must be completed, and on several minor points. . , , Outstanding issues include the union’s claim for uniform wage rates, for time and a half for Saturday, double time for Sunday within the 40hour week, and for uniform shift payments of 2s 6d a shift. Court’s Pronouncement Mr Rigg suggested that any decision on wages had better be made after the pronouncement of the Court of Arbitration on standard wage rates, otherwise there might be argument afterwards.

Mr L. B. Hutton, for the employers, said he would like the chairman’s opinion on the employers’ request that the halfpenny an hour increase which they had offered should be taken into consideration after the Court made its pronouncement. Mr Rigg said it was possible that the Arbitration Court’s ruling might not apply in like manner to all awards. It was not possible to say what relative positions would be under the Court’s pronouncement. '

Mr P. A. Hansen, for the Tramway Employees’ Union, asked: “Why not give the decision riow, and let us see later how the Court’s pronouncement affects it? If we had lodged the present claims to-day, instead of last December, they would have been increased by 6d an hour over the figures we have stated.”

Mr Rigg: My reason for raising the matter is that the Court’s decision will have to be applied by the parties themselves. That is one reason why this tribunal should not be wound up till we get a decision. Mr Rigg said the determination of his decision on various points involved in the present dispute would be an arduous duty, and not one he would have sought hsd he the choice. He would give it very careful consideration, and the decision would have reasons behind it which, to him at least, would be sound.

Mr Hansen: We would press very strongly and urgently that the decision on wages should not be delayed until after the Court’s pronouncement. Mr E. A. Whitlow (Auckland), for the union, said: “New Plymouth has waited 15 months for this decision Dunedin l2 months, and Auckland nine months.”

Mr Hansen said: “The wages case the umon has stated should be dealt with under present conditions.” Mr Rigg: Well, I am quite willing to take it on that basis. Mr Rigg added that the decision meanwhile would operate as a decision, and not as a national award for the industry.

BAN ON WOMEN LIKELY TO BE LIFTED

U • WELLINGTON, July 24. . 7 ? e J’ an lm POSed by the New Zealand Tramway Employees’ Union on the engagement of further women conductors on New Zealand’s tramway services js likely soon to be lifted. When the employers’ representatives at the sitting of the disputes committee to-day agreed to the provision of a half-hour meal relief for shift workers, union representatives immediately announced that they would recommend the national council of the union to lift the ban on the entry of any more women to the service. Mr P. A. Hansen, the union’s secretarv, said they were confident the national council would adopt their recommendation;