SETTLEMENT REACHED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27040, 26 March 1949, Page 8

SETTLEMENT REACHED

GENERAL DRIVERS’ DISPUTE CONCILIATION COUNCIL HEARING PA WELLINGTON, Mar. 25. The chief issue in tne New Zealand general drivers’ dispute whicn involved stop-work meetings in most centres during January was settled m Conciliation council to-day. ihe secretary of tne Drivers’ Feneration, Mi A. C. Melville, said that at the resumed sittings of the council the workers’ representatives accepted tne amended proposal offered by the employers tor country drivers over whose conditions the chief diffeience had arisen during the earlier negoU said that the settlement was for a 40-hour five-day week tor country drivers from Monday to r ridav the daily hours not to exceed nine in a span of 12, Saturday work to be paid for at time and a-half up to eight hours, and where shifts were broken an allowance of 2s 6d to be paid for time stood off. In lieu of special dirt money, payments at penal rates, and for woik done outside clock hours a special payment of 10s a week in addition to weekly wages was offered by the employers and accepted. A special clause provided for any driver working principally on milk and cream transport to work for nine months of the year on five of the seven days with a total of 40 hours a .week with the daily hours not exceeding 9$ in a span of 14, with 2s 6d a day for stand off time. In lieu of dirt money and penal rates, and for working outside clock hours, an additional 5s a ween will be paid. For the remaining three months of the year. May, June and July, a 40-hour six-day week wn apply, these drivers’ daily hours not to exceed seven hours, to be continuous, and an additional special payment of 5s a week to apply. . The council adjourned to consider other matters on Monday. .