PAY AND HOURS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 230, 24 June 1932, Page 15

PAY AND HOURS

Christchurch Tram Men ACTION BY BOARD Proposals & Counter-proposals Dominion Special Service. Christchurch June 23. Abolition o£ preference for union- . Ists, an extension of the dally hours of work, and of the span in which that work may be done, a reduction of overtime rates for Sunday work, and the curtailment of holidays are the main alterations in the proposals the Christchiirch Tramway Board has submitted to the union for a new agreement to take the place of the one that has just expired, though the. actual rates of pay are not altered. Mr. E. Snow, secretary to the union, told a reporter to-day that the proposals, if put into effect, will greatly reduce the men’s earnings. The union has drawn up counterproposals, the gist of which is that the present agreement shall be continued with the exception that the number of hours that can be worked a fortnight be reduced from 96 to 88, so as to. keep all the men employed. The union has discussed the boards proposals at meetings, and it is willing to meet the board in conference to discuss them. Mr. Snow said to-day that the clause dealing with preference for unionists read as follows: “Employees shall not be compelled to become members of the union; the.union shall not allow any person to be a member thereof who is not employed in the departments of the board covered by these conditions; fio inspector or other officer of the board shall be a member of the union; in the event of a member of the union being appointed to the position of inspector or any office not provided for in this award he shall immediately resign from the union, and the union shall forthwith accept his resignation.” The scale of wages proposed by the board is practically the same as at present, although the wages have been worked out with'the 10 per cent, reduction on the old rates on a flat rate as near as possible. The schedule is as follows Conductors: First three months, 1/6j an-, hour; next 21 months, 1/7J; third and following years, 1/BJ. Motormen (on two-men electric cars): First and secend years, 1/8-1; third and following vears, 1/9. Drivers of one-man cars and trackless trams, 1/11. Petre’ bus drivers, 1/10. The board suggests that week-day hours shall not be less than seven, and shall not exceed nine, to be worked within a space of 12 hours. The present agreement provides for a minimum of eight hours for a working day, to be worked within a stretch of 11 hours. The board proposes to pay time and a half for all overtime, whereas at present the traffic men received time and a half for the first three hours and double time thereafter. Ip all other departments time and a half is paid for the first two hours and double time after that. For Sunday work the board suggests time and a quarter in lieu of double time under the agreement just expired. The board proposes a six-day holiday only, whereas the old agreement allows . holidays, of froin eight to 10 days for men who do not work on Sundays, and from eight to 13 days for those who do, according to the length of time served. Under the heading “interpretations" the board suggests that in case of a disagreement arising no proceedings shall be taken by either party until the matter in dispute has been submitted to a special committee comprising two members of the board and two representatives of the employees from the particular section that may be involved in the dispute.