Withdrawal Of Time Off To See Queen

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32252, 21 March 1970, Page 46

Withdrawal Of Time Off To See Queen

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, March 20.

The Auckland Regional Authority has withdrawn the time off it was to have given staff to attend the civic welcome to the Queen on Tuesday.

The secretary of the Auckland Regional Authority Busi Drivers' Union (Mt E. A/ Whitlow) said this afternoon:' “It is a most miserable atti-i

itude.” He said staff not engaged .in essential services were to have been given time off on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 12.45 ' p.m. These people were to get three hours .pay, he said. “Bus drivers who will have to work in unduly difficult; conditions on that day asked for that aifiount as well,” he said. A union deputation met the authority’s staff committee today to ask that the drivers: receive this amount. “We had a sharp argument and they said they would make a. decision later,” Mr Whitlow said. “I have now’ iheard from the committee

that it will not grant any em;!ployee time off at all. “The A.R.A. has adopted a 'most -miserable attitude and ■ I'l told them so.” ,

The staff committee chair--1 man (Mr F. G. Turner) said > the decision had been virtu-ally-forced on the committee , by the busmen’s demand, t “They wanted three hours pay on top of the penalty /payment they would already /be getting,” he said. “They I; said this would put them on ‘[a par with the others who were getting three hours off with pay.” ! Mr Turner said there werei ■people engaged in other] ! essential work such as drain-! age treatment and water-; tiworks who would still have! I had to work. ■] “If we give it to one then! /we would have to give it to ; everyone,” he said. |