TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9211, 14 April 1908, Page 4

TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES.

THE ENGINE-DRIVERS' CLAIM. At yesterday's meeting of the Christchurch Tramway Board, Mr H. Pearce said that he had noticed in recent issues of the "Lyttelton Times" a complaint by the Engpe-dnvers Union that the Board had mot considered its application for back-pay due under an award. This was incorrect, as the application had been considered. It was advisable to place the Board's side of the case before the public, seeing thajC the Union had published its statement of the matter. The position was that the award under which the alleged shortage of pay took place was dated May 5 1903, and the Clmstchurch Tramway Company was exempted from its provisions provided that it paid at the rate Df 10s a day of nine hours or Is Ud per hour, and time and a nair for overtime and for Sunday work. When the Board took, over the system from the Tramway Company it was assumped that the Board came withm the exemption clause, but notwitstanding this the men were paid more, receiving Is lid per hour, time and a half for overtime and double e° n .^, n^f ' The Board was subsequently cited tor a breach of the award and was fined, lhe award piovided for a 48-hour week, the wages being 10s a day or Is 3d per holr (steaming^ time not allowed) with overtime at the rate of time and a quarter and double time on^nday^ In answer to a question, Mr F earce said that the Staff Committee intended to do something in the *»cto(m <* setting off the money overpaid to these men a|ainst the amount claxmed under the award*.