Otago Drivers Seek $10 p.w. Rise

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32301, 20 May 1970, Page 13

Otago Drivers Seek $10 p.w. Rise

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, May 18. The Otago Drivers’ Union is seeking an extra $lO a week for its 1600 members. It has already filed its claim—which represents an increase of about 25 per cent—with the Otago Commercial Transport Association.

Members of the association: employ only about 500 drivers, but the union says its next step is to claim a[ similar amount for all ancillary drivers those employed by companies which cart their own goods—and later for all remaining sections of the union. If granted the wage increase would bring the drivers close to $5O a week, or $1.25 an hour, which at a mass stop work meeting last year they resolved would be the basis of all future wage negotiations. The president of the Commercial Transport Association (Mr J. A. Veitch) said the union’s letter was received today. The next meeting of the association’s executive b would be early next month, but a meeting might be called earlier. However, the claim might not be dealt with at a local level, he said. It might . become a national issue. The union secretary (Mr W. W. Kellett) said the

r drivers intended to negotiate locally. Drivers’ wages vary according to the type and size of vehicle. Pay scales range from $34.64 a week to $41.68 and the average driver earns a basic $39.50 a week. Mr Kellett said the union was claiming the increase because it had found that a labourer employed by Spencer Crust Gairn Transport, Ltd, was being paid $7.52 above the labourers' award and was receiving more than most drivers on a 40-hour week basis. It also appeared’ that drivers were 9 per cent below the national average wage increases quoted by the Minister of Finance (Mr Muidoon) in a television appearance on May 12. He said that according to Mr Muldoon wages had averaged a 29 per cent increase in the past three years, while drivers’ wages rose only 20 per cent over I this period.