HOLIDAY CLAIMS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 128, 24 February 1938, Page 8

HOLIDAY CLAIMS

May Day And Fortnight On Full Pay COACH WORKERS’ DISPUTE May Day as an annual holiday was a claim advanced when the parties to the coach workers’ dispute met in Conciliation Council yesterday. This proposal as well as a claim for a fortnight’s Holiday on full pay, drew protests from Mr. W. J. Mountjoy, employers’ agent, and the employers’ assessors. “This is the first dispute 1 have struck in which May Day has been claimed as a holiday,” remarked Mr. Mount joy.

Mr. L. Glover, agent for the workers: It is recognised now as an interna-, tional working class day and an attempt is being made to stabilise MajDay instead of a picnic day. Mr. Mountjoy: Instead of Labour Day? Mr. Glover: No. Labour Day has become your day now. We are asking for May Daj’ all over the world.

Mr. Mountjoy: I am afraid we are not going to be the martyrs. Mr. Glover: No, but it is just as well for you to get used to it. We are asking for it in all agreements. Mr. Mountjoy: Well, thei'e is no harm in asking for it, but this is one of the things I am afraid we cannot- agree to. Cost of Holidays. When the claim for a fortnight’s holiday on full pay came under discussion, Mr. J. E. Hunt, an employers’ assessor, asked if the workers had considered the resultant extra load of costs which the industry would have to carry. Mr. Glover said that no employer would get the best out of his men if he worked them all the year round, without a definite break. “These men don't work on Saturdays and Sundays," said Mr. Mountjoy. - Mr. Glover said ''that it was in the employers’ interests that their men should have a fortnight or so off every year so that they could get away and fit themselves for the work of another year. If that was admitted, surely it was reasonable to provide them with the means to meet the expenses incurred. Mr. Hunt: It will load another 6d. an hour on to the industry for every worker. 'Mr. Glover: You are suggesting that a man should work on like a machine, without a breakdown. Mr. Hunt: The public considers we are overcharging now. I don’t see how we could get this extra cost back. Mr. Glover: The growl that people have about overcharging is not a complaint ; it is a disease. It was stated that many of the larger factories in England were granting their men a fortnight’s annual holiday on full pay, the view being that the holiday was mutually beneficial.

Mr. Mountjoy said that they could not agree to an annual holiday on pay for hourly workers. It had been stated frequently that the Government would consider making it necessary for all workers to have an annual holiday, and the employers preferred to leave the question to the Government.

Mr. Glover: It had better go to the court. We are quite sincere about it. It was agreed that the whole question of holidays should be referred to the Arbitration Court.