MOTOR DRIVERS’ DISPUTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19970, 11 December 1926, Page 14

MOTOR DRIVERS’ DISPUTE.

AN AGREEMENT REACHED. WAGES AND CONDITIONS. (Special to Daily: Times.) WELLINGTON, December 9. A complete agreement has been reached between the parties in the case of the Dominion dispute affecting the drivers of passenger transport vehicles. The first section of the agreement deals with the drivers of taxi cabstand provides for a 60 and 70 hour week alternately, and a 10-hour day, the employers giving the alternative of working % uniform working week of 65 hours on six days of the week. The minimum wages are to be £4 12s 6d per week, with an overtime rate of 2s 3d per hour. In the case of the omnibus drivers the hours are to be 96 per fortnight, the daily average not to exceed 10, spread over a span of 13. One day is to be allowed off per week, and the wages are £5 per week, overtime 3s per hour. For the drivers of service cars on long-distance runs the hours are to be 96 per fortnight, and not more than 11 in any one day. with one day off per week, and the wages £5 per week. There is also in this section of the agreement provision for the employment of youths at wages _ ranging from 50s to 80s per week; overtime 3s per hour for adults and 2s for youths. The agreement contains a clause requiring all drivers to submit to a medical examination at any time the employer requires such examination to bo made by a medical officer nominated'by the employer and at his expense. Garage attendants are provided tor, but tlic agreement does not relate to those attendants now covered by the Dominion motor mechanics’ award. In the case of those to which the agreement relates the hours are to be per week, with one day off, the wages being £4 4s per week, with an overtime rate of Is lid per hour for 50 hours and 3s per hour in excess of that of nine hours a day. \ general section ot the agreement provides for all workers covered by the award being granted two weeks' annual leave on full pay after 12 months service in compensation for haying to work on Sundays and holiday's without extia payment The agreement becomes operative on January 10, 1927. and remains in force until March 31, 1929. Application has been made to the Arbitration Court to convert the agreement into an award.