TAXI DRIVERS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 119, 16 November 1914, Page 8

TAXI DRIVERS

WANT £3 PER WEEK? AND PERCENTAGE OF PROFITS. The licensed taxi-drivers in Wellington have lately formed themselves into an industrial union of workers, and are now seeking a taxi-drivers' award for the first time in the Dominion. The men demand that a full w.eek's work shall consist of fifty-six hours, and include all time taken for the preparing, cleaning, and repairing of cars; that all time worked over ten hours in any one day, or fifty-six hours in any one week; shall be paid for at overtime rates; that every worker shall be entitled to have every alternate Sunday off, but any employer may substitute another day for Sunday ; and that drivers shall not be called upon to work for more than five hours consecutively with" : out having not less than half an hour for mealst A minimum wage of not )ess than £3 per week is demanded, and it is urged that in addition every driver shall be entitled to 20 per cent, of the gross earnings each week over and above £15. Othpr demands provide for the payment of overtime at the rate of time and a-half, one week's holiday on full pay each year after the completion of twelve months' service, the payment of 2s an hour (with a minimum of> 6s) for work done on five public holidays, weekly employment, and full preference to unionists. The award is sought for one year. The dispute will come on for hearing before the Conciliation Council to-morrow morning at 10.30.