Drivers reject 9% offer

Press, 13 June 1978, Page 3

Drivers reject 9% offer

PA Wellington Road transport drivers yesterday rejected wage offers that would have increased their existing pay by up to 9 per cent. The offer, in conciliation by the Road Transport Association, was rejected by the Drivers’ Federation.

The employers’ offer incorporated the 1976 7 per cent cost-of-living order into existing pay rates, translating it as 17.5 c an hour on all classifications. Also, the employers renewed an offer to increase all pay classifications by 1,6.5 c an hour, and to increase the industry allowance paid outside Wellington and Auckland to $8.30. The industry allowance in the two main centres would stay at $6.60, their offer said. .. ■ An allowance would increase by 9 per cent The service allowance would rise to a maximum of $5.50 a week after 48 months continuous service by a driver with one employer. The hourly rate under the new offer would range from $2.58 to $2.91 an hour, according to classification, or from $111.50 to $124.73 a week. Drivers in the 10 to 14 tonnes category, the largest in the general drivers’ agreement, would get $2.66 an hour or $114.51 a week under the new offer. This would increase to $120.01 after 48 months. Drivers in the present negotiations initially claimed an increase of 24 per cent, which is now believed to have been reduced to about 17 per cent.