OVERTIME WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26780, 25 May 1948, Page 4

OVERTIME WORK

DUNEDIN TAXI DRIVERS “ UNPARALLELED BASIS ” The situation created in the taxi industry in Dunedin through the Arbitration Court’s refusal to override the overtime provisions laid down by the Industrial Tribunal last September has not yet been clarified here. The court’s decision means that Dunedin taxi drivers will be paid overtime at ordinary time plus 3d an hour while, in the rest of New Zealand, drivers will receive overtime at ordinary rates plus 6d an hour. Further, whereas in the rest of New Zealand, workers must work up to 10 hours’ overtime in any one week as required by the employer, workers under the tribunal’s decision, in the opinion of union representatives here, have the right to refuse overtime. If a move is made by the industry in Dunedin, a further tribunal sitting may be held to bring Dunedin into line with the rest of New Zealand. As the matter stands, the taxi industry in Dunedin now operates on a basis unparalleled in any other industry in that it is governed both by an award of the court and the decision of the tribunal.