TESTING STATION PROBLEMS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29363, 16 November 1960, Page 5

TESTING STATION PROBLEMS

Better Conditions Wanted

The reft leal of the employees of the City Council's vehicle testing station to work overtime was not because the City Council had reduced sick leave benefits when it raiweri wages to the Public Service level. It was because of working conditions at the testing station, said the chairman of the awards committee (Cr. H. P. Smith) yesterday. Cr. 'Smith said he had heard a whisper that the reductibn of sick pay had caused the refusal to work overtime, but he had been assured by the secretary of the Engineers’ Union that was not so and the basis of contention was working conditions. The five points raised by the employees of the testing station had been considered by the council and in some cases steps had been taken to overcome the complaints. The union’s complaints would be discussed at the next council meeting and would also be made the subject of a special supplementary report of the traffic committee, he said. The assistant secretary of the Canterbury Engineers' Union (Mr G. Scott) confirmed that there had been negotiations between the union and the council and said that the matters related to working conditions and the new salary scale and its implications. Although the testing station is at present experiencing a rush period, union officials said it was unlikely that approval would be given for traffic officers- to work at the testing station as it was considered that the traffic officers had more important duties to carry out.