TRAMWAYMEN WIN VERDICT IN DISPUTES HEARING

Evening Star, Issue 26137, 26 June 1947, Page 6

TRAMWAYMEN WIN VERDICT IN DISPUTES HEARING

The decision given by the commissioner'is: “ The questions for decisiou nfo (1) whether the employer’s action m changing the rostered day off was contrary to the award, aud (2) the question of tho loss of earnings of flie men resulting from such change. Clause 3 (f) of the atfard provides <*. , . all weekly days off shall rotate and the same shall be , rostered with a provision for the equal distribution of Saturdays and Mondays. The postered days off shall not be changed during the currency of this award.” " Prior to the present award coming into force, it had been the practice to permit the employer to change the rostered day off, and the last preceding award recognised this by providing for a penalty rate for work done On such substituted day. That the prohibition of such practice in the current award is intended to be absolute is borne out by {he fact that the provision for a penalty rate in the old award lias not been re-enacted.

Stop-work Meeting Cancelled

No stop-work meeting will be held by the employees of the corporation transport department this evening, the executive' of the Dunedin branch of the Tramways Union having decided to cancel the proposed meeting. “ The decision of the Commissioner, while satisfactory to the union, does, however, demonstrate certain weaknesses in the administration of the transport department,” said Mr W. B. Richards, in a statement to the 1 Star.’ “ Firstly, it proves that there must be a closer understanding between the departmental heads and the union. Secondly, there must be a closer co-operation between the City

A decision supporting the claim of tfee Tramways Union that the department could not change the rostered days off duty enjoyed by the employees was given by the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr A. B. Rigg), this afternoon. The decision was made after both parties to the dispute—the union and the City Council—met in a Disputes Committee last night, under the chairmanship of the commissioner. The stop-work meeting planned by the union to be held this evening has been cancelled.

“ The eifect of the change made by the employing authority has been to deprive workers of their normal share of Sunday work at the specified double rate' of pay, thereby reducing their earnings. As Sunday is, under the award, included in the working week, additional earnings for Sunday work are rightly regarded as normal earnings, and as such were, no doubt, a consideration in arriving at an agreement upon the terms of the award. “ I find, therefore, that the employer was not entitled to alter the rostered day off, and I direct that the roster in force prior to the date of abolition of Sunday tram services, in so far as it fixes days off, be adhered to. I further direct that the earnings of the men who worked on what would have been their day off if the roster had not been changed be made up to what would have been earned had the original roster been adhered to.”

Council and the union. Thirdly, the Dominion award cannot be concluded too quickly if there is to be a period of peace and harmony in the tramway industry.” Mr Richards said that although the shift payment for night shift shed workers was not. discussed officially, nevertheless assurances were given by the representatives of the City Council that satisfied the union they would lose nothing by allowing this matter to be settled at a conference between the union and the council. The chairman of the Transport Committee (Cr J. McCrae) declined to make any comment on the decision when it was referred to him.