Sugar works staff cut overtime

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33454, 8 February 1974, Page 3

Sugar works staff cut overtime

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 7. Chelsea sugar works staff today said that they were reducing overtime because too few men were working too long for little reward.

A spokesman for the Sugar Workers’ Union was replying to a statement from the New Zealand Sugar

'Refining Company this week! that a sugar shortage had; resulted from, among other! reasons, overtime restric-; tions. Most of the 140-odd men! were working 60 hours a I week. About 30 had decided; from today to restrict their! overtime hours. Negotiations had been continuing for some time for a productivity wage increase, but because of “unrealistic offers and unnecessary delays,” the overtime restrictions were being imposed, said the spokesman. The company had run a bonus scheme for seven years, but this had not been! altered to reflect produc-I tivity. In that time, staff; numbers had been reduced; from 179 to 142, and produc.-' tion had steadily increased by! 4 per cent each year. In return, the company, had offered a productivity! scheme which, on last week’s ! production, would have! given each man an extra 3.5 c • for the week, said the spokes-' man. Another meeting between; the management and the; union is expected next week.!