CORPORATION DRIVERS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 70, 23 March 1926, Page 9

CORPORATION DRIVERS

APPLICATION FOR NEW . AGREEMENT .

-HIGHER WAGES AND SHORTER • .. "hours;" ■" " ■ •

• An application for a new agreement with the Wellington City. Corporation :was made by the Wellington' Motor and Horse Drivers'^TJiiion, on behalf of the drivers employed by the' Corporation, before Mr. W. Newton, Conciliation ■ Commissioner, to-day.' ' . - .- • ■ Tho assessors from the union were Messrs. J. M' Crea, J. Preseott, and H. Wallis, with Mr.. A.Parlane,' secretary of the Driver's/ Union, as agent; and Messrs. E. Pringle, M. J. Casey, and W. Grenfell represented- the Corporation: Presenting, the case for the applicants/Mr.. Parlane said that they were asking- for; an increase'in the rate ■of wages of 5s a week, a reduction of hours for horse-drivers from 49J to 48----hours a week, and for motor-drivers from 47 hours to '44 hours. They also asked that' pjl drivers should receive annual leave of nine days, instead of seven days. Mr.'. Parlane said there had been an increase in the cost of-living since the -present agreement was. made.and the latest figures showed Wellington iv a yer^ unfavourable light compared with the other centres..!■ '..'■■ . : .Mr. Grenfell said the drivers employed by the Wellington City Council were receiving better treatment than drivers ."anywhere else in New .Zealand. He refcried to the' .recently-made ■ Canterbury award, and asked Mr. Parlane whether he would-be prepared to accept it. ..•■-■.'■ Mr. Parlane replied that he would accept it as a basis.of agreement with '."adjustments- to suit local, conditions. •' Mr. Grenfell said' that .under the last Dominion- -award a single-horse driver received £4 11s a week for 5,2 hours'. "Tho Wellington City Council's drivers ■•'"worked 49J hours and the wage was ; £-4 11s 3d. The Wellington City Council'1 treated the men .very favourably, and he did not consider that it should grant an increase. ' In addition, the work was.not vory strenuous. Mr. Casey pointed out that Corporation drivers were . liberally treated in ■regard to sick pay and the provision of "wet weather clothing^: ■ Mr./Parlane said ho considered the applicants had a good case, and they were prepared to go to the. Court and let it decide. Mr. Casey stated that the Corporation was not prepared .to grant any increase. ■ • ' , "■■"... '..'■■' -"Mr. Parlane'contended that if there was an increase in tho basic wage, an increase in all wages built up from the •basic wage must follow. ".■■•■' After considerable discussion, Mr. Parlane said tho assessors would agreo to the old agreement except on thj question of wages, holidays, and the hours of stablemen; and at this stage the Council adjourned -till later-this afternoon. . :,.