NIGHT WORK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21552, 3 November 1944, Page 4

NIGHT WORK

RAILWAY OPERATION CLAIM FOR EXTRA PAY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 3. The strain of night work and the dislocation of home life were emphasised in support of a claim on behalf of the Engine-drivers, Firemen, and Cleaners’ Association heard by the railways tribunal yesterday. The claim was that night rates at time and a half be paid between 6 p.m and 6 a.m. in place of the present payment at time and a quarter between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The department's reply was that night work was a necessary incident in railway operation, and it was submitted that the claim was unreasonable. In many parts of the Dominion daylight hours extended for some time after 6 p.m., especially during the summer months, and a considerable amount of traffic was required to be handled during those evening hours, involving the employment of a large number of staff. If the claim were granted the rate of pay of employees working in the evening would be unjustifiably high. The claim would place an exorbitant additional cost on the provision of essential transport during the evening and night hours. Submissions were made also in support of a claim by the Enginedrivers, Firemen and Cleaners - Association that double time be paid for work after II hours on duty and after 50 hours had been worked in a week. The present rate is time and a half alter eight hours and after 40 hours in a week. For the employees it, was claimed that there should be an additional penalty if the shift could not be completed within 11 hours.