Aviemore Working Hours In Balance

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31547, 8 December 1967, Page 22

Aviemore Working Hours In Balance

(New Zealand Press Association)

OAMARU, December 7.

The proposed commissioning date of the first generators at the Aviemore hydro-electric power station, in June, 1968, may not now be achieved if the 1100-strong work force accedes to a recommendation from the Benmore branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union.

It is that a 44hour week should be adopted instead of the project hours of 48 per week being worked at present, plus a considerable amount of overtime. The president of the Benmore branch of the union (Mr A. Noon) today issued the following statement. “In view of the uncertainty of future employment for the Benmore and Aviemore work force, the executive of the local branch last evening decided to call a stop-work meeting for Friday morning, with a recommendation to members that a secret ballot be taken regarding the future working hours to be worked. “The recommendation is that all members should work a 44-hour week, which, in all possibility, would assure them of a longer term of employment on the present projects. “Responsible Government Ministers have stated that because the rate of increase in demand for power has decreased, the present completion date for Aviemore is not a necessity. “The results of the ballot will be made known to our members at the meeting, but

will not be made public until such time as the general secretary of the union (Mr W. A. Dempster) can discuss the problem with the Ministers concerned.”