ACTION DEPLORED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 23, 28 January 1944, Page 3

ACTION DEPLORED

INTERESTS JEOPARDISED

That the Wellington railway bus drivers, by taking the law into thenown hands and ceasing work on the past two Sundays, at a time when continuation of negotiations might have borne fruit; had violated the principles of unionism and jeopardised their own interests, is the opinion of the executive council of the Amalgamated Society of Railway, Servants. The council deplored the precipitate action of the bus drivers, it is stated in an article in the society's journal, "Railway Review." "In the first place," the executive council says, "we desire to reiterate our statement that we support the bus drivers in their claim for double pay for all work performed on Sundays. "Sunday should be a day of rest, and if the public demand service on that day, a penal rate should be struck that will ensure such service being kept down to the lowest possible point, and the men giving the service being adequately compensated for the sacrifice they make to give service on that day. "Towards the end of 1943, as a result of our negotiations with the Railway Department, the General Manager agreed to make Sunday a rest day in terms of the Omnibus Passenger Drivers' Award, which was an improvement in the position, in that the bus drivers were to be paid rate ana one-half for the first four hours and double pay thereafter for all work performed on Sunday—an arrangement accepted by the bus drivers' representatives who took part an the discussions and later agreed to by members of the Road Motor Service Branch. ROSTBRING Of 4 SHIFTS. "Later exception was taken by the men to the manner in which the rostered shifts were being worked, their contention being that ..the anticipated benefit from the new arrangement was nullified by the method under which the men's shifts were "The net result,of this, the men held, was that therfe was no change m the method of payment for time worked on recognised rest days, while they, on the other hand, were working longer periods between rest days. "In the meantime similar demands were being made by the Auckland bus drivers, and our men, being under the impression that double pay had been granted to the Auckland drivers for Sunday duty, renewed their demand for double pay lor drivers in the railway service. "At this stage we informed our, bus drivers that we had it on reliable authority that if double pay was granted to the Auckland drivers it cWd not be withheld from them. "When it was ascertained that double pay was not granted to tne Auckland drivers, further trouble ensued, and our drivers, contrary to our advice, decided not to report for Sunday duty until double pay was grant6d"When later the Auckland drivers decided to accept the Governments offer to set up a tribunal to hear evident and deefde the question, our dnVers decided still to adhere to their decision not to work on Sundays until they were guaranteed double k^fhe case for the men was referred to the Minister of Railways, who replied oJ December 24 to the effect hat the statement that the omnibus owners in Auckland had agreed to pay their employees double time for Sunday work was contrary to fact and that no such arrangement could be made without reference to the Stotalisation Committee; and as this _had not been done, he regretted he could not give effect to the railway bus drivers' request for double pay. MANAGER'S STAND. "On January 21 the general manager wrote stating that because the men had declined to work on Sundays Si double pay was granted, his devious offer that all Sundays were ?o be regarded as rest days to ensure Sat extra rates'should be paid, would £ cSeUed and that award condiJlTes to the bus drivers concerned this, the executive council wfiS was in session, considered the matter and decided to tasgucUhe uts drivers" to report for duty penoing the decision of the tribunal to be set up to hear evidence and decide the question. CONCESSIONS GAINED. "The executive council felt constraiSed to point out that in negotiatinm over the years on behalf ot our road motor service branch, we have been able to secure conditions. which embody some of the best provisions in the award and also the Railway Department's regulations. "For example, .when members of the railway service with under iv years' service got six days' annual leave, and members over 10 years 5 service nine days, the road motor service drivers got three weeks 6"They were also made eligible for membership in the Railway Sick Benefit Society, which for the contribution pays the highest sick benefit in this or any other country. "In addition to these, they were granted privilege rates on the railways and a free pass for each year oi service. , „ "With regard to the payment oi overtime, they are in a better position than other departments of the railway service, in that they get rate and one-half for the first four hours and double time thereafter under the award, whereas the railway worker, no matter how many hours' overtime is worked, gets rate and one half only. "In view of the above and the fact that the Auckland drivers have accepted the Government's offer of a tribunal to hear and determine the issue, and that the branch has been informed that we have it on reliable authority, that if double pay is granted to the Auckland drivers it could not be withheld from our members, the executive council instructed our road motor service branch to carry on until the question at issue was decided by the tribunal. Further, the executive council deplores the attitude adopted by the bus drivers in their determination to continue independent action- despite the advice and instruction of the executive council."