ROAD BUS SERVICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24450, 8 November 1940, Page 10

ROAD BUS SERVICES

COMPLAINT BY EMPLOYEES BREACHES OF AWARD ALLEGED PROSECUTION SUGGESTED (Special io Dail* Times) WELLINGTON, Nov. 7. A report supplied to the press by the chairman (Mr E. E. Wells) and the secretary (Mr A. King) of the road service branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants states that the bus drivers and other employees of the Railways Department held a special mass meeting at midnight last night to discuss the dismissal of a member of their union, who, it as stated, had been on duty driving a motor bus daily for 10 days without a rest period of 24 hours, and, on refusing to work the extended shift, was dismissed for refusing duty Strong exception was taken to the dismissal of the man who " refused to continue to break the transport licensing regulations " which provide for 24 hours' rest period in seven days.

Repeated Complaints

The report states that the branch has repeatedly complained to the general manager of railways that breaches of the regulations and the award were being committed, and alleges that drivers are being ordered to overload buses beyond the regulation allowance, which has already bee- extended because of the petrol shortage, that the rosters do not comply with the regulations and the award,- and that the per cent, wages increase awarded by the Court of Arbitration has not been made, the department paying a flat rate of 5s a' week instead. , The meeting decided to send a deputation to wait on the commissioner of transport (Mr G. L. Laurenson) to urge the prosecution of the department for the alleged breaches, an inquiry into the operations of the railway road services, and the reinstatement of the dismissed employee. The meeting also reaffirmed a resolution passed at a previous meeting protesting against the emergency regulation.

Allegations Contested

This report was referred to the general manager of railways, Mr E. Casey, who stated that he had not received any complaints for many months past regarding alleged breaches of the regulations or of f he award conditions. During the period when owing to the petrol restrictions, the service to the Hutt Valley was cut down with the consent of the Transport Department from a 10-minute interval to a 15-minutc interval, a certain amount of overcrowding was inevitable, but recently permission had been received from the Transport Department to revert to a 10-minute interval, and conditions were now normal. . . , ' ~i ■ With reference to the payment of the 5 per cent, wages increase awarded by the Court of Arbitration, Mr Casey said the position was that the Government had approved of the payment of a cost-of-living bonus to all Government employees on the lower level of wages. This amount of 5s a week had been paid to employees of the railway service, including those in the road motor service branch. The Dismissed Member Mr Casey said that the member dismissed .was not driving every full day for 10 days without a 24-hour break, as would appear from the statement. On October 28 he was employed for two hours only learning to drive a bus with a gas-producer equipment. Mr Casey said he had no further comment to make pending the interview between the men and the Lommissioner of Transport. He added that the men had nqt brought the present case under his notice.