SUNDAY BUS SERVICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25427, 7 January 1944, Page 2

SUNDAY BUS SERVICES

AUCKLAND DRIVERS’ DECISION MINISTER REPEATS THREAT (P.A.) ' WELLINGTON, Jan! 0. In a statement to-night the Minister of Labour, Mr P. C. Webb, referred to the reported decision of a general meeting of the Auckland Drivers Union to support the bus drivers’ resolution to carry only essential workers on Sundays until the proprietors agree to the demands of the workers for double time payment on Sundays, a guaranteed minimum of eight hours work, and no change in the. present roster for days off. The Minister said that under the terms of the award _no provision is made for special Sunday rates, except where a worker has exceeded the prescribed number of working hours for a week or a fortnight. “A discussion between the parties took place prior to the holidays,” Mr Webb said. “ This arose out of complaints made by the union that the conditions of work on Sundays have become particularly difficult because ox overloading, largely on account of visiting servicemen. Some misunderstanding arose between the parties regarding the result of the conference, and the workers decided to work as usual on Christmas Sunday, pending a further meeting of the union. “During my visit to Auckland last week I was informed that at a meeting of the union held between Christmas and New Year it had been decided not to run the buses on the Sunday following New Year’s. Day unless double time was paid and a minimum of eight hours’ consecutive work was conceded. I informed the union through the secretary tha,t the decision was a breach of the law, and would affect the members of the public in their holiday arrangements, and the Government would be forced to take stern measures if the union adhered to its decision. It was explained to me that a rearrangement of the hours of work on Sunday could be brought about, which would ensure the workers a full eight hours’ work, and m view of this I agreed to appoint a Disputes Committee under the Strike and Lockout Emergency Regulations to look into the matter with a view to finding a solution of the difficulty. “It comes as a surprise to me,” Mr Webb added, “that the union has re- . jected the proposal to have the dispute dealt with by a special tribunal, and has decided to refuse to work the buses on Sundays, except for essential workers. lam hopeful, however, that the union will reconsider the position, and that the proposal to have the matter dealt with in the manner 0 above suggested will be adopted—failing which it will be necessary to invoke the provisions of the law regarding illegal stoppages of work.”