WATERSIDERS’ HOLIDAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1940, Page 12

WATERSIDERS’ HOLIDAY

WORK AT SPECIAL RATES. [per press association.] AUCKLAND, December 10. Following the announcement made on October 24 by the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union that waterside workers would forego their annual picnic for the duration of the war as part of the Dominion’s war effort, the Port of Auckland Shipping and Stevedores’ Association has been informed by the union that the men will be willing to work on January 22, the date agreed upon for the picnic holiday, at the special holiday overtime rate, with a minimum of eight hours’ work. The employers have agreed to work the men at this special rate on the/date in question if necessary. . _ Asked to explain how the union’s decision reconciled with its earlier announcement, the secretary of the union (Mr A. Girven) said that tne union had announced that the men would forego their picnic; but had made no announcement regarding the holiday, which was allowed under the award. The union did not want to forego it during the war, at the risk of not regaining it after the war. Waterside workers in Auckland, he said, Would not hold a picnic duringthe war. The special overtime rate is 5/8 an hour, plus the 5 per cent, recently awarded to waterside workers, making the hourly rate about 5/11 £d. The Auckland waterfront controller, Captain Stanich, said the men were entitled to the holiday under the award. Captain Lewis, president of the Port of Auckland Shipping and Stevedores’ Association, said the union’s decision was nothing more than was called for under the terms of the award.