SUNDAY TRAM WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 143, 13 December 1940, Page 6

SUNDAY TRAM WORK

(To the Editor.)

Sj r> —i n the reports published in your paper relating to the application made by the Tramways Department to the Price Fixation Tribunal, the City Solicitor, Mr. J. O'Shea, is quoted as stating that the average hourly wages cost for Sunday trams was Us a car, and that men worked ten hours or more 'at these rates. While it is agreed that the highest rates paid to motormen and conductors is double time on 2s 9d and 2s 7d per hour respectively, we feel it is not quite fair to make a statement of this nature without qualifying it by giving all the facts. These men are required to work at these rates on an average of not more than once a month, and the inference that men always work ten hours or more is I quite unfair, as in a large majority of leases the time worked is a great deal less.than ten hours. A ten-hour shift iis the exception rather than the rule. Under the provisions of the award the minimum period for which men may be required to work is four hours. If they are required to work a longer period than that it is definitely to suit the requirements of the employer. Mr. J. O'Shea is also quoted as saying: "Wellington paid double time ox* Sundays. Auckland time and a haJf. This is a serious matter." In Wellington time worked on Sunday is additional to forty hours per week, whereas in Auckland men are paid time and a half on Sundays as part of the fortyhour week. In other words, Sunday work for Wellington is distinctly overtime as apart from the forty hours, whilst Sunday work in Auckland is part of the forty hours, and when a man is required to work on Sunday in that city he is given a day off in lieu of the Sunday worked. The Tramways Department has never intimated that it is desirous of any alteration to the existing practice of Sunday work being additional to the normal working week. We consider that, notwithstanding the statement in respect to the high cost of Sunday operation made by Mr. O'Shea, any man, regardless of his calling, required to perform any work on Sunday is entitled to the highest possible rate of remuneration for his services.—l am, ! etc., P. A. HANSEN, Secretary N.Z. Tramways Authorities j Employees* Union, ] Wellington Branch.