DRIVERS’ CONDITIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8190, 3 August 1912, Page 8

DRIVERS’ CONDITIONS

CLAIMS FOR A NEW AWARD,

About 450 employers carrying on business in Wellington and suburbs, Palmerston North, Feilding, Kongctea, Ashhurst, Levin, and Masterton have been cited by the Wellington Drivers’ Union in connection with its claim for a new award. The dispute will bo considered by a conciliation council which is to sit in Wellington on August 14th. > The most important of tho union a demands are those relating to hours It is asked that forty-seven and a halt hours shall constitute a week’s work, the daily working hours to be regulated in advance by each employer, according to tho special requirements of each trade or business, but so that the ordinary hours of work shall be made to fall between tho hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on five days, and 7 a.m. and noon on the day tho weekly half-holiday is observed. These hours are to include the time occupied in attendance on horses, cleaning harness, and washing vehicles and booking-in time. Overtime pay at Is 6d per hour is fought for all time worked in excess of the specified hours. The union asks that the minimum weekly wages for drivers of one horse shall be £2 14s, for drivers of two horses £2 18s, and 4s per week extra shall be paid foi each additional horse,, either driven or attended to. In the event of an extra horse being driven intermittently, the driver to receive Is extra for each such horse placed in his charge. No deduction to be made from such wages for any cause other than for time lost by the default of the worker. For casual labor payment at Is 6d per hour is asked. Provision is made for the employment of youths: from 18 to 19 years at £2 per week, and from 19 to 20 years at £2 5s per week. The holidays asked for are: New Year’s Day, January 2nd. Anniversary Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, King's Birthday, Labor Day, Prince of Wales Birthday, Christmas Day. and Boxing Day; when any holiday falls on a Sunday the following day to be observed. The claims include also an under-rate workers’ clause and a preference clause.