Milk Delivery Crisis

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31987, 14 May 1969, Page 1

Milk Delivery Crisis

(N.Z. Press Association)

DUNEDIN, May 13.

Dunedin milk deliveries are said to be threatened by Otago Drivers’ Union claims that boys employed on milk runs come under the Drivers’ Award—and are entitled at least to $lB a week plus overtime for week-end work.

The chairman of the Dunedin Milk Vendors’ Association, Mr H. H. Pemberton, said today that no vendor could pay these wages. Milk deliveries would be forced to stop.

Earlier, the Kaikorai Valley High School Students’ magazine, “Mercury,” claimed that boys employed on milk delivery runs were being illegally exploited.

It said that they were starting work before 6 a.m., and were paid low wages. A Department of Labour spokesman said that'the boys were not covered by an award in Otago, although this was not the case in other main centres.

But today the Otago Drivers’ Union disputed this. The union said the boys were covered by the New Zealand Motor and Horse Drivers’ Award, as drivers’ assistants. It had sought legal advice, and had received verbal confirmation of this.

The boys are not classified as casual workers—most work five successive days or more —and are entitled to a basic wage of $18.14 a week under the award.

They are also entitled to time and a half on Saturdays and double time on Sundays —in addition to holiday pay and allowances such as wet weather clothing. This means that a boy working two hours a. day, seven

days a week could earn at least $2l a week. The current average paid by milk vendors, according to Mr Pemberton, is about 50c an hour. A boy working the seven-day, two hour daily shift would then earn about $7, although many earned less depending on the type of run, hours worked and other factors.

Union officers said they would investigate any complaint by either the boys or their parents. Mr Pemberton said that if the union’s claims were true, and the award was enforced, milk deliveries would halt. “No-one can pay these wages—and we can't do without the boys," he said. Vendors received 11c a gallon profit in retail sales. If the price of milk was to rise to absorb the additional wages, the increase would have to be “fantastic.” “If the union presses its claims, we will take It up with the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys),” he said. s