REFUSAL TO WORK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 22 December 1942, Page 4

REFUSAL TO WORK

NIGHT SHIFT CRANE DRIVERS WATERSIDERS’ CONDITION Auckland, Dec. 21. Crane-drivers employed by the Auckland Harbour Board have refused to work the night shift between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. ‘for the last fortnight following a dispute over the minimum hours to be paid for during the shift. The crane drivers, who are given a guaranteed minimum payment for three hours, desire to work under the same conditions as waterside workers, who receive a four-hour minimum payment if work is not started and pay for eight hours once work is started. Should ram or other circumstances stop work waterside workers on night shift are entitled to full payment at overtime rates for eight hours. DOMINION-WIDE DISPUTE When work has ceased after only a few hours crane-drivers on the night shift have found it impossible t 0 get transport home in the early hours of the morning and have been forced to find accommodation in the city. They claim that the guaranteed minimum payment for three hours is small com pensation for the expense and inconvenience they meet when work is stopped short. The dispute was Dominion-wide said the engineer-superintendent of the Auckland Harbour Board. Mr D. Holderness, yesterday. The position was the same at other ports. About 80 crane-drivers were employed by the board under the Harbour Board Employees’ Award. Ships at Auckland had continued to work during the night shifts by using their own gear. Work had been held up because of the lack of cranes, as, although the port had not been very busy, a certain number of ships had been working.

DISPUTES COMMITTEE APPOINTED An emergency disputes committee tc consider the dispute has been appointee by the Minister of Labour, Mr P. C. Webb, exercising the powers conferred upon him by the Strike and Lockout Emergency Regulations. 1939.—P.A.