DEMANDS TO MEN

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 223, 16 June 1932, Page 8

DEMANDS TO MEN

Christchurch Tramway Board NEW AWARD SOUGHT Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, June 15. The demands of the Christchurch Tramway Board in connection with a new award for its employees do not, it is understood, provide for a reduction in wages. It is also believed that there will be no drastic alterations to the conditions generally, except an alteration to the rates of Sunday pay, holiday pay, and hours of work. Members of the board deny that the demands are drastic, as stated by the union. The board takes the view that Sunday is included in the ordinary working week of the tramway employee, and that consequently there is no reason why th ; men should be paid double time on that day. It is stated that the board has not considered the question of doing away with the preference to unionists clause in the present award. In a letter that he sent to the secretary of the union, with a copy of the board’s proposals, the general manager of tramways stated that it would be observed that 10 per cent, off the old rates, which was the order under the agreement just expired, had been changed into a fixed basis rate to a similar value as near as possible. “You will note that no provision is being made for a continuation of the rationing scheme,” stated the letter.