New award based on qualifications

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33917, 9 August 1975, Page 2

New award based on qualifications

(Neto Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 8. An agreement which introduces a new concept into wage structures in New Zealand was reached in conciliation late last evening by the Drivers’ Federation and the New Zealand oil industry employers.

The agreement pro- . I duces a system for wage j rates based on employee ! qualifications, irrespective of the type of work involved, so that for the first time the potential of a worker will be written into his wage rate. The new wage structure will also be based on. the li-j cence classification of a driver and on the capacity' of the vehicle he drives. The; new system has base rates! increased only by the 11c an| hour, and the 2.25 per cent | permitted under the Government's wages guidelines; but where take-home pay is likely to alter considerably! tit is under the agreement tt| bring capacity and perform-1 ance payments into thei award. . The “ability to perform’*)

payment ranges to a maximum of $8.50 a week above I the base rate, and “capacity” payments range from $2 for 1 up to 1000 gallons to S 9 for ■ over 7000 gallons, also on top of the base rate. These payments also come into ‘ calculation in overtime payments. One of the major points | of agreement in the award provides that where a driver qualifies for the “maximum j ability to perform” payment, . this will be retained peri manently by him regardless < of the class of vehicle he i might be called upon to I drive. In this respect also, I the award provides that 1 when a driver qualifies for i an articulated licence, the| 52.50 a week this qualification bears will also bei retained, regardless of the : classification of the vehicle !he drives. Agreement on the abilityi to-perform aspects of the ) award implement in part the decision of the Ritchie Com- , mission of Inquiry last Febj ruary that when a worker ! proved he could perform a i particular classification of ; work, the payment associi ated with it should be regained permanently by him. Under the new agreement. ■ for example a driver of a 500-gallon articulated vehicle towing a 2000-gallon trailer would receive a base heavytrade payment of $81.54 a week, with a capacity payI payment of $3.50, and a

trailer payment of $7.50, giving him a gross pay of $100.54 for a straight 40hour week. The award also incorporated two new service classifications providing payments of $4 a week after five years service and $5 a week after 10 years service, with the one employer in both cases. An annual-leave clause granting four weeks for drivers with 10 years service, and an additional week’s holiday above the existing three weeks for shift workers, is also provided. Home-heating oil, drivers j under the new award will j receive 60c a day extra be- ■ cause of the special conditions of their work. Whales. — The importation of whale meat or whale products has been forbidden by an Order in Council. Under the Customs Import Prohibition (whales, and whale products) live whales, whale meat, and by-products from whales cannot be imported. — (P.A.).