NO SATURDAY WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26040, 2 January 1946, Page 6

NO SATURDAY WORK

DECISION OF EMPLOYEES (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 1. According to' a statement made by the secretary of the Auckland branen of the Baking Trades Employees’ Union, Mr F. H. Bourke, the decision of the workers to observe a 40-hour fiveday week is to be implemented. This mean? that there will be no work on Saturdays in the future. No meeting .of the union is to be held to discuss the resolution passed by the Auckland Master Bakers’ Association. The decision of the union was that, “In view of the fact that the Master Bakers’ Association has refused to pay time and a-half for work done on Saturdays, we will in future, commencing on January 1, work a five-day 40-hour week from Monday to Friday inclusive. Any time worked in excess of eight hours a day shall be paid for at overtime rates.” Mr Bourke said that a misunderstanding of the workers’ decision appeared to exist. It did not mean that the men would work on Saturdays at overtime rates. Work would be done only from Monday to Friday inclusive. On receipt of the employers’ resolution requiring the men to report for work on Saturdays at the same time and a-half rates as at present ruling, and asking the union for definite advice of its intentions, Mr Bourke added, he circulated it to all bread bakeries between the city and Onehunga and the men voted on it. At all the bakeries the men decided to abide by their previous decision to work a five-day 40-hour week. He said that that meant there would be no Saturday work from now on. . , . - . „ “The men consider it unfair that one section of the workers should be left out while others get the five-day 40-hour week provided by the Factories Amendment Act,” he added. “It is not reasonable. They have also had enough of delays which occur when they apply to the court.”