TAXI DRIVERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26544, 20 August 1947, Page 4

TAXI DRIVERS

WAGES AND HOURS “ NEW DEAL” NECESSARY ATTITUDE OF OTAGO TRADES COUNCIL “When a deputation from the Drivers' Union representing the taxi drivers met the executive of the Otago Trades Council of the Federation of Labour, it was demonstrated in their report that the wages and conditions of their industry would have to be considerably improved to bring them in line with other sections of the transport industry,’’ said Mr W. B. Richards, president of the Otago Trades Council, in a statement to the Daily Times last night. . At two special shift meetings of taxi drivers in Dunedin held on Monday, strong dissatisfaction with the existing conditions was expressed and it was decided to refer the question of the taxi drivers' dispute over wages and conditions to the Transport Workers’ Federation and the Federation of Labour, with the request that they should take immediate action to obtain a settlement. . “An improvement in taxi-drivers conditions is necessary if we are to have a continuation of peace and harmony,’’ Mr Richards said. “ Irt fact, the report placed before the Trades Council indicated that the conditions have improved very little on the standards prevailing in the 1930-34 period. “It is the intention, not only of the Federation of Labour, but of the Transport Workers’ Federation, to see that there is a new deal for this group of workers, who are mostly ex-servicemen of the Second World War,’’ he concluded.