DRIVERS’ AWARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 25 November 1938, Page 6

DRIVERS’ AWARD

CONFERENCE OF PARTIES NO ALTERATIONS TO BE MADE DECISION OF EMPLOYERS I United Press Association] WELLINGTON, This Day. A conference of representatives of the New Zealand Federated Drivers’ and Related Trades Industrial Association of Workers and the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance, the New Zealand Carriers’ and Customs Agents Association, and others employers of drivers, commenced yesterday and concluded this morning under the chairmanship of Mr T. O. Bishop, secretary of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation. The object of the meeting was to give the workers’ representatives an opportunity of submitting to the employers certain matters arising out of the recent award of the Court of Arbitration. The most important matter brought forward for discussion was whether the wages should be based on 40 hours and any hours worked above 40 should be paid for, and the desirability that wages rates should bear the same relative position to wages of other workers as was the case in past awards.

Other matters discussed were: Clause 2, sub-clause (e), for the purpose of embodying the principle of a rate such as already was embodied in the award for bakers and drivers for early starting. Clause 2, sub-clause (f). for the purpose of eliminating the words "except for serious misconduct.” Clause 3. Part I, sub-clause (a), wages and sub-clauses (c) and (d). for minor amendments. With regard to Part II it was desired to discuss hours (especially seasonal hours) and wages. Clause 8 (h), in respect to the words “for serious misconduct.” Clause 1 (a), Part 111, re drivers’ assistants employed on bakers’ vehicles making provisions for drivers’ assistants on bakers’ vehicles. Clause 9 (b), meal allowance for drivers working under Part 11, and also some retrospective pay.

These matters were discussed in detail, after which an adjournment was taken to allow the employers’ delegates to consider their reply. On resumption the employers submitted a reply as follows: “Representatives of the employers of drivers have given careful consideration to the representations and requests made by the Drivers’ Unions, and while they are of opinion that an award better in some respects might have been obtained during conciliation proceedings, now that the award has been made they feel that any attempt to alter its provisions would involve violation of the principles which are vital to the arbitration system, and therefore have been forced to the conclusion that the award should remain unaltered for its term of one year.” Both sides expressed appreciation of the spirit in which the discussions had been conducted, and workers’ representatives expressed regret that no result had been obtained from the conference, and said they would report back to their members the views expressed by the employers as well as the final reply.