Extra Pay For Day Shift Workers

Northern Advocate, 10 December 1940, Page 7

Extra Pay For Day Shift Workers

[Per Press Association. Copyright ] DUNEDIN, This Day.

Whether a firm, which, in order to fulfil, its orders, decides to employ another shift, has to pay workers on day shift an extra 3/- a shift, was decided last month by Mr Justice Kennedy. He decided that the extra 3/- had to be paid. In the first instance, John James Grant, a wool carder, appealed against the decision of a magistrate in an action he brought against Ross and Glendining, Ltd., for extra payment for shift work under the terms of the Woollen Mills Labour Suspension Order, 1940.

The magistrate dismissed the claim His Honor, on the other hand, upheld the appeal. Cannot Prevail Against Order.

“It may seem anomalous to some that the worker should receive an additional 3/- a shift simply because another set of workers is doing the same work within the period of 24 hours,” said His Honor in his judgment, “and that if the defendant company continued night work plaintiff would .cease to be entitled to 3/r extra a shift, and that before the suspension order night work might he carried on under the award. “These considerations, however, cannot prevail against the terms of the order.” Test Before Full Court. Ross and Glendming had given notice, to appeal to the Appeal Court against this decision, but as another case on similar lines with a different plaintiff is set down for hearing, it has been agreed that this action, should be brought before the Full Court, which will consist ,of the* Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) , Mr justice and another judge, probably Mr Justice, Norther oft. ’ . The Court will sit in Dunedin on Wednesday week. The parties have agreed to accept the-decision of the Full Court as conclusive.