SUNDAY PAY ON THE TRAMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17663, 27 December 1920, Page 8

SUNDAY PAY ON THE TRAMS.

n < —•» Protect- thp Public's " letter of | ;lie 23id inpt., is so ridiculous that I was | nearly ignoring it. In reference to our i union hiufling the council, I wonder if lis j :s waif that, at Dutiedin the concessions , ho. mentions Iwe just, been granted to the i 1 >unedin tramwaymen. and e\idently he; has noser had "any business with the | j Mavor and .the Public Services Commit- ; to*, "of the Auckland City CouuciL or lie . would not write such nonsense as "bluff- | ing the council." Just- to enlighten him | r»n one point I -will mention that our men j work everv other Sundav, " not one .n j ?even.'' ' A. G. Rarxe?. Secretary Tramways I nion. ! ( Sir, —■■ Protect the Public" writes that j the City Council made a big blunder by ' giving the tramwaymen double time on | Sundav on top of a six-day week. and j that we need only work one Sunday in j seven. The fart is "that tramwaymen work j every alternate Sunday, for which they j are compelled to have ci day off m the week (for which they receive no pay), so as not to exceed the six-day week. Sun day work is now in six-hour shifts, and this even with double time and the day off in the week does not give a great. deal of overtime. The wages of top-paid motormen runs out at £4 12s for 48 hours ; in the case of conductors it is less. The man that makes £5 a week is very luikv. Tramwaym AN. Sir,—"Protect the Public " lacks knowledge' of the conditions existing under the agreement between the Auckland City Council and the Tramway Union. Kindly permit me to submit the following: —(a) Tramway men work about every second Sunday and receive double rate of pay for Sunday work; (b) the rule applies that a man working on Sundays must, take one day off duty without pay during the week following. 'The above explodes the concession ideas spoken of by the correspondent, alsq, that tramwaymen work one Sunday iif seven weeks. Tramwaymen do not relish Sunday work, and would prefer to have Sunday in place of any day set apart at the will of the depot officer. The public convenience is considered, not the wishes of the men, desires of wives, or needs of family or pleasure of friends. We go on Sunday duty, and — oft times a man would willingly increase — the double rate to have the privilege of ■< enjoying the freedom so lightly held by 1 many who cannot appreciate the good day of rest. Ask tramwaymen if they 4 would spend 3d a section for Sunday 1 privileges, and be happy to do so for - each section, not only 3d for first section U and Id per section thereafter. It's a lot C to grant at. As for " mere bluff " on the [ part of the union, I may state had we brains good enough to bluff the type of man attending to Auckland's business affairs, our attention would be otherwise J, directed than in assisting in transport of passengers at 3d a section on Sundays with a grant at the end. In conclusion 1 claim that the title " Protect the Public " belongs to the tramwaymen, such - title being honestly earned in their daily duties. Jimmy.