Electrical Switchboard Men Seek More Pay

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29752, 20 February 1962, Page 22

Electrical Switchboard Men Seek More Pay

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON. February 19 About 75 switchboard operators were affected by the award now in dispute, said Mr J. A. Neary, appearing on behalf of the North Island Electrical and Related Trades Industrial Union of Workers in the Arbitration Court today before Mr Justice Tyndall. The union is claiming a weekly increase in wages of 30s a week, and a new classification for the ‘‘controlroom load control operator” at a weekly rate of pgy of £l6 14s 3d. In dealing with the union’s claim for a new definition and classification for the ‘‘controNroom load control operator,” Mr Neary said he wished to stress the responsibility placed on operators required to control peak-load periods. The union also claimed single ordinary rates extra should be paid for the time worked on Sunday and Saturday afternoon and half the ordinary rate extra for ordinary time worked before noon on Saturday. An extra Is 6d on the allowance for a worker who worked on an afternoon or night shift was claimed by the union, which also

claimed that workers employed for more than one i hour on any day handling transformer or dieeel oil should be paid 2s fid extra ’ a day instead of 2s as in the present award Mr P. L. Oldham is appearing for the employers.