OVERTIME REFUSED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21227, 16 October 1943, Page 4

OVERTIME REFUSED

COOL STORE WORKERS higher wages sought EFFECT ON PRODUCE (PA.) AUCKLAND. Oct. 16. Chamber hands employed in the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company’s cool stores on King's Wharf are refusing to work overtime between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. until their ,request for a higher hourly rate of pay is satisfactorily settled. About 150 men who work under the freezing workers’ award arc involved. Because the cool stores have not been working in the evenings, small coastal vessels have had to discharge cheese and butter into wharf sheds, where it has remained until morning. Although no large overseas vessels are awaiting dairy cargoes, the staieinalc may. if it continues next week, 'bo serious. With cost-of-living bonuses, the men earn about 3s an hour. Any increase in the ordinary hourly rate would bo reflected in the overtime rate, which is time and nhalf between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Small vessels arc at present busily engaged bringing dairy produce to Auckland, as the peak of the dairy season next month is approaching. The vessels have to discharge in the evenings at Aucland, as they are usually scheduled to make a quick return for more cargo. With the competition of higher wages 'and more overtime elsewhere, difficulty is also experienced in engaging casual labourers to work cargo on small vessels from river ports in the dairying districts. Carriers are also finding it difficult to obtain labourers to help them with heavy cheeses on their trucks.