DRIVERS' DISPUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22390, 9 April 1936, Page 14

DRIVERS' DISPUTE

CLAIMS OF EMPLOYEES DOMINION AWARD SOUGHT A WEEK OF FORTY HOURS [by TELEGRAPH —I'RKSS association] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Now Zealand Federated Drivers and Related Trades Dispute was before a Conciliation Council to-day, Mr. P. Hally presiding. The Dominion award had lapsed, the industry being at present covered by district awards. The union applied for a Dominion award and sought a maximum of 40 hours a week, inclusive of time required for necessary attendance to horses'and vehicles, any time over eight hours a day to be paid for at overtime rates. Work done before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. was to be paid for at overtime rates except in specified cases. The employers offered a 48 hours week.

The wages sought by the union were £4 ]Bs 6d for driving and attending ono horse with 6s extra for each additional horse and from £5 3s for drivers of motor vehicles up to two tons to £5 15s for driving such vehicles over ten tons, £5 5s 6d for driving tractors, and £5 3s for driving mowers or rollers. The employers' offer was the wages of existing district awards, namely, £3 I7s 8d for one-horse drivers, £4 Is for two-horse drivers, £3 l'Os for motor vehicles not exceeding in weight with load one ton, from £3 19s for driving vehicles over oife ton and up to two tons to £4 9s 6d for vehicles over 10 tons with corresponding rates for drivers employed on hourly wages. Tho discussion has not concluded.