DRIVERS’ DISPUTE

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 22, Issue 92, 28 November 1911, Page 8

DRIVERS’ DISPUTE

CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS. Mr P. Hally, the Conciliation Commissioner, with the assessors representing the drivers and employers respectively, has arrived at the following agreement in the matter of the demand ,for increased wages and shorter hours for drivers GENEEAL CAETERS. The hours of work for general carters were fixed l as follow hours per week, exclusive of the time required for stable attendance; working hours can be regulated by each employer according to the requirements and circumstances of his particular business. Any time between 7 p.m, and 6 a.m. must be paid for at the rate of Is 3d per hour. Employers carrying on business as grocers, drapers, bakers, and ironmongers come under the Shops and Offices Act, by which the hours of their drivers are regulated. Drivers not fully employed as drivers may do such casual work as is required in connection with

the business of their employers. Drivers are entitled to an hour for dinner except in cases of an urgent character. Employers to provide each driver with a tinie-book in which the total.hours worked and the overtime, if any, must be entered by the driver and certified to by the employer before the week’s wages are paid. ( BATES OF WAGES. For driving and attending one horse, £2 6s per week; driving and attending two or more horses, £2 8s fid. A singlehorse driver attending a “ change ” horse is entitled to a wage of £2 7s per week. The wages for drivers of bakers’ carts are £1 8s fid for single men if “ found,” and £2 4s fid “ dry ” pay; married men driving bakers’ carts, £2 6s fid. The above rate of £1 8s fid applies only to bakers. The £2 4s fid for single or £2 fis fid for married men apply to all classes of employers coming under the Shops and Offices Act. Where they are only partially employed driving, and filling in time in the shops, the drivers are paid £2 fis per week. EMPLOYMENT OF YOUTHS. Youths employed on bakers’ carts, from 15 to 17 years of age, 15s per week r and “found,” or 22s fid “ dry ” pay; 17 to 19 years, 17s fid if “ found,” 25s “dry" pay; 19 to 21 years, 20s and “ found,” and 27s fid “ dry ” pay. Youths employed in any other business carried on under the Shops and Offices ' Act, 15 to 16 years, 12s fid; 16 to 17 years, 17s fid; 17 to 18 years, 225; 18 to 19 years, 25a; 19 to 21 years, 30s; over 21 years of age to be paid full rates. Wages to be paid weekly; no deduction „ from wages unless for time lost through I the worker’s own default. holidays. | Eight days’ holiday are allowed dur- ; I ing the course of the year, but employers and employees may agree to substitute any other day or days for those specified. OVERTIME. Overtime must be paid for any time worked inexcess of 8 % hours in any one day, or in excess of 47)£ hours in any one week, unless specified otherwise. Aerated water and cordial makers’ carters, provided they do not exceed hours to average 52 a week throughout | the year, no overtime to be charged. Sunday, Christmas Day, and Good Friday work to be paid at the rate of 2s an hour; other ordinary holidays specified in the agreement, Is 3d. DISMISSAL. A week’s notice 1 by either party is required in case of dismissal or resignab tion. This does not prevent an employer dismissing any worker good cause. PREFERENCE OF EMPLOYMENT. Preference of employment is given to members of the Marlborough Drivers’ Union, provided that they are able to supply competent men, and keep an unemployed book at Blenheim, Seddon, Picton, and Havelock, and employers requiring the services of a man shall communicate with the Inspector of Factories or his agent in each of these places, and if he is unable to supply a suitable man be is permitted to take on any person outside of the Union. GENERAL, The scope of the award applies to i within a radius of ten miles of the Chief Post Offices at Blenheim, Seddon, Picton, Havelock, and Ward. Employers of drivers making trips beyond the scope mentioned above may make special arrangements with such drivers as to hours, overtime, etc., for the whole trip, and during the time occupied by such trip neither employer nor worker shall be deemed to be bound by the terms of the award. An employer may provide board and lodging for any driver at the rate of 18s per week. EXEMPTIONS. The exemptions are: Employers of drivers in charge of teams used by agricultural and sheep farmers, when carting goods exclusively for the use of their farm; employers of drivers in charge of vehicles used for the conveyance of passengers; contracts in hand, provided that notice is given to the Inspector of Factories within 30 days of the award coming into operation; country sawmills, so far as the cartage of timber from their sawmills to the order of the timber merchants is concerned ; wharf at Havelock, or railway trucks; mail coach proprietors, so far as their passenger ’buses or mail coaches I are concerned. TERM OF AWARD. The term of the award suggested by the parties is three years. • The foregoing arrangement merely acts as a recommendation to the parties to agree on the lines suggested, and will [ at the expiration of 30 days, be forwarded to the Arbitration Court. When the Court meets in Blenheim all parties will again be summoned to attend the sitting, and if they either individually 5 or collectively have any fault to find with the recommendation they can j make their protest during the hearing 1 of the case, and if the Court thinks there is anything substantial in thoii objection it will modify or re-adjust the 3 agreement to suit the parties. —Express