A FIVE-DAY WEEK

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 April 1946, Page 2

A FIVE-DAY WEEK

RAILWAY ORGANISATIONS’

CLAIM

SUBMISSIONSTO TRIBUNAL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 24. A 40-hour five-day week is the subject of a claim presented on behalf of the joint railway staff organisations before the Railways Tribunal to-day after an adjournment of six months. Further evidence and submissions as a result of recent legislation are now being heard on the claim, which is that normal hours of duty should not be more than eight daily for five days per week, Sundays inclusive, the working days to be Monday to Friday, double ordinary rate to be paid for all time on duty on the rostered or usual day off, the payment for this day to stand by itself.

The department’s advocate, after referring to the effect of recent legislation on working hours, said the department wished to make very clear that it was its definite policy and aim to enable its employees to have their hours of work apart from Saturday duty confined to five shifts a week, wherever practicable, and to limit the working week as far as possible to the ordinary hours prescribed for diffierent classes of employees. A departmental circular had been issued in December last instructing the executive heads to prepare plans for the replacement of war-time duty schedules by rosters based on a 40-hour, five-day week, wherever practicable and as staff became available. Unfortunately the staff situation had not developed as anticipated and in February a nation-wide campaign was launched for recruits, particularly operating personnel. Although at March 31 the increase in employees was 1970 on the figure at March 31, 1945, the staffs in certain branches were still far short of requirements for a 40-hour five-day week, and in addition new appointees required a certain period of training. The housing shortage was also a factor in the situation. It was submitted that the granting of the claim in the present circumstances in- all branches was, not possible at present, but the department intended to continue to endeavour to bring about an extension of the principle claimed as soon as possible. Nevertheless the department was of the opinion that the penalty claimed for departure from a rigid five-day week was unreasonable, having regard to the nature of railway employment. ’ The hearing will be continued on Friday. .