48-HOUR WEEK

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24189, 3 February 1942, Page 4

48-HOUR WEEK

TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES

ACTION IN WELLINGTON

MEETING STAFF SHORTAGE

[BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Monday To meet the position caused by the shortage of staff the Wellington tramwaymen are now working a 48-hour week, and a Government announcement covering the whole of Now Zealand is expected shortly. Representatives of the Tramways Union and tho New Zealand Passenger Transport Association discussed the problems caused by the calling up ol large numbers of tramwaymen at a conference in Wellington convened by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, on January 22. The Wellington action is the outcome of the conference. Under the new arrangement men who formerly worked a five-day week can now be worked a six-day week, eight hours daily. For time worked in excess of 40 hours they are being paid overtime at the rate of time and a-half. This will represent a minimum increase of 30s a week, and as some men are already drawing overtime for work in excess of 40 hours they will get more than that. Sunday has always been paid for at double time in Wellington., The new arrangement is expected..to make further consideration of the employment of women on trams unnecessary in the meantime. "Auckland tramwaymen still have a 40-hour week, and there will be no alteration at least until next Monday, when the board will meet and the recent conference will bo reported upon," said Mr. J. Sayegh, chairman of the Auckland Transport Board, when the Wellington message was referred to him last night. Mr. Sayegh added that the Auckland board had not experienced a shortage of employees, as had occurred in Wellington, and the question of employing women had not been discussed in Auckland, as no need had arisen. No shrtrtage of staff was expected until the next ballot.