BUS DRIVERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 14, 18 January 1944, Page 3

BUS DRIVERS

A.S.R.S. COUNCIL'S VIEW

SUNDAY DOUBLE PAY ISSUE Although agreeing with the request of the railway bus drivers for double pay for Sunday work, the executive council of the A.S.R.S., controlling body of the union, points out in a statement today that negotiations were actually proceeding with the authorities on the question when the bus drivers decided to cease work last Sunday. The council, now sitting in Wellington, considered the bus drivers' case and issued the following statement:— "The executive council has always advocated the payment of double rate for Sunday work on the grounds that Sunday, the day of rest, should not be interfered with if it was at all possible to avoid it. In conformity with this recognised policy, we have for years past endeavoured to prevail upon Governments and the Railway Department to pay double rates for Sunday duty to members of our road motor service branch. "Because of this, and in order to keep Sunday work for our members down | to the absolute minimum, we support the request sf our bus drivers to be brought into line with the rest of the service and allowed double pay for Sunday duty. "As, however, .the Passenger Transport Drivers' Award, taken by the Railway Department as a basis on which the wages of our motor service [branch members are determined, does not provide for double pay for Sunday duty, and as the added difficulty of stabilisation regulations still exists, negotiations were still proceeding on behalf of our bus drivers When they decided not to work on Sundays until the question of double pay was settled. "Whilst there may be differences of opinion with regard to the method adopted by the bus drivers, it must be obvious that the executive council cannot depart from its declared policy or repudiate the principle already established in this matter."