NEW AWARD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21185, 4 November 1938, Page 10

NEW AWARD

Motor and Horse Drivers General Increase of 5/By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, November 3 A general increase in wages of 5/- a week, with smaller Increases to juniors, is provided by the New Zealand Motor and Horse Drivers’ Award, which has been issued by the Second Court of Arbitration. The increase was granted by a majority decision of the Court, which decided unanimously to fix the hours as in the expired award. Regarding wages, the parties had the pronouncement of the Court in the Sugar Workers’ dispute to guide them, said Mr Justice Hunter. The Court in that case had made a general Increase of 5/- a week in line with the increase the Court proposed generally to award to adult weekly workers. “The Court has been unable to see its way to agree to a 40-hour week for all drivers,” stated Mr Justice Hunter, “because this is an industry subsidiary to a large number of industries, in some of which a longer week than 40 hours is worked, and the services of the drivers must be available during the whole of such a longer week. The hours’ clause follows the principle of ‘following the house,’ and those drivers who at present work a lesser number of hours than 44 per week will continue to do so.” Dissent from Decision The employees’ representative, Mr A. W. Croskery dissented from the majority decision of the Court, in restricting the increase in wages to 5/- for weekly workers, as set out in a memorandum to the Sugar Workers’ Award. He stated that a general 5/- increase to weekly workers, without giving any consideration to the hours of work completely denied workers the right to maintain the relative position which they had been working under other awards. If drivers’ wages had been all assessed on the same relative consideration, as adopted by Mr Justice Frazer in 1924 and 1925, continued Mr Croskery, the lowest paid driver to-day should receive a weekly wage of £5/2/8 for his 44-hour week, in order to maintain h’s relative position with the labourer. Minimum Wages The minimum wages fixed in part I. of the award, applying to workers other than those engaged in goods transport services, operating under the Transport Licensing Act are as follows: Driving and attending one horse £4/13/-; two horses £4/16/-; more than two horses, 6d a day or 2/6 a week for each additional horse.

Driving any motor vehicle up to two tons, with load, including motor-cycles and tri-cars, £4/16/-; two tons to four tons £4/18/6; four tons to five and a half tons, £5/1/-; 52s tons to 10 tons £5/5/-; over 10 tons, £5/8/-. Tractors, not otherwise specified, and used with trailers, £5 Small motor rollers, £4, 26/-. Motor-driven implements, used on construction, maintenance or formation work 2/6J an hour.

The wages for youths driving a horse range from £2/7/6 from 18 to 19 years, to £3/4/6 from 20 to 21 years. On motor vehicles they range from £2/12/6 to £3/9/6. For goods service drivers the minimum weekly rates and overtime rates according to the weight of the vehicle are as follows:—Up to one ton £4/18/3; one to two tons, £5/1/6; two to 41 tons £5/3/6; 41 to 61 tons £5/7/3; over 61 tons £5/10/3. For youths the weekly rate ranges from £2/15/- to £3/14/6, and overtime from 1/8 to 2/3 an hour. The award will operate from October 31 last to October 31, 1939. DRIVERS DISSATISFIED SERIES OF MEETINGS CALLED By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, November 3. It is proposed by the Auckland Drivers’ Union to hold a special meeting of members on Sunday at the Trades’ Hall to discuss the new award. Special meetings are” also being arranged in other centres for the same purpose. The views expressed at the Auckland meeting are to be communicated to Wellington. Provisions in the new award for hours and wages do not fulfil the desires expressed at a meeting of about 800 members of the Auckland Union held last week. At that meeting members expressed the opinion that the Union should be awarded a 40hour week for all drivers, and an increase in wages of 10/- a week. The new award adheres to the former 44hour week, with the exception of those men who have been working a smaller number, and grants a wages increase of 5/- a week. Another question discussed at that meeting was annual holidays, members expressing the opinion that these should be of two weeks. The secretary of the Union (Mr L. G. Matthews) said that he did not yet know what holiday provisions had been made in the new award. He would be discussing the matter at Wellington before Sunday’s meeting was held.

DUNEDIN PROTEST AWARD MOST UNSATISFACTORY I, I By Telegraph —Press Association DUNEDIN, November 3. | General dissatisfaction is being expressed by members of the Otago Drivers’ Union with respect to the wages and hours prescribed in the new motor and horse drivers' award promul- I gated by the Second Court of Arbitra- I tion yesterday, and the following 1 resolution was carried unanimously by a special meeting of the executive of the Union: “That a deputation from the New Zealand Federated Drivers’ Association, in conjunction with the I New Zealand Federation of Labour meet the Government with a vie-..’ to ' expressing emphatic disapproval of the ■ inadequate provisions made in the new ; motor and horse di' . trs’ award, pro- j mulgated by the Second Court of ; Arbitration. Further, that the Government be urged to affirm in principle , and precept its advocacy of the 40hour week.”