WILLING TO WORK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 11 December 1940, Page 2

WILLING TO WORK

ON DATE OF PICNIC HOLIDAY AT SPECIAL OVERTIME RATES [United Press Association] AUCKLAND, 10th December. Following an announcement made on 24th October by the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union that waterside workers would forego their annual picnic for the duration of the war as part of the Dominion’s war effort, the Port of Auckland Shipping and Stevedores’ Association has been informed by the union that the men will be willing to work on 22nd January, the date agreed upon for the picnic holiday, at special holiday overtime rate with a minimum of eight hours’ work. The employers have agreed to work the men at this special rate on the date in question if necessary. Asked to explain how the union’s decision reconciled with its earlier announcement, the secretary of the union, Mr A. Girven, said the union had an- j nounced that the men would forego ! their picnic, but had made no an- | nouncement regarding the holiday which was allowed under the award. The union did not want to forego it during the war at the risk of not regaining it after the war. Waterside workers in Auckland, he said, would not hold a picnic during the war. The special overtime rate is 5s 8d an hour, plus the 5 per cent, recently awarded to waterside workers, making an hourly rate of about 5s llad. The Auckland Waterfront: Controller, Captain Stanich, said the men were entitled to a holiday under the award. Captain Lewis, president of the Port of Auckland Shipping and Stevedores’ Association, said the union’s decision was nothing more than was called for under the terms of the award.