Taxi telephonists stop work

Press, 20 February 1988, Page 11

Taxi telephonists stop work

PA Hamilton A 24-hour national strike of taxi telephonists began at 4 p.m. yesterday in protest against award negotiation break-downs. The telephonists’ national award advocate, Mr Peter Murphy, said employers had been given only an hour’s notice of the action in an attempt to extract the most impact. Taxis would still be available but customers should expect delays because only taxi company management would be available to answer The dispute revolves round telephonists’ award claims for improved allowances and an 11.7 per cent wage increase. This, Mr Murphy said, would

bring them into line with clerical worker rates. A courier telephonist, working under the clerical workers’ award, was now paid $56 a week more than a taxi telephonist, who worked under the taxi telephonists’ award. Employers had offered 7 per cent and were not prepared to negotiate, Mr Murphy said. The 1000 union members voted for a national stoppage earlier this year. The union chose last evening as the week’s bu-> siest, Mr Murphy said. The union hoped the action would bring employers back to the negotiating table. If not, further action would have to be taken, he said.