HOURS WORKED BY HARBOUR PILOTS TO BE INVESTIGATED

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 December 1948, Page 7

HOURS WORKED BY HARBOUR PILOTS TO BE INVESTIGATED

The fact that the pilots employed by the Wanganui Harbour Board worked 84 hours a week when on night duty and that they did not receive any overtime payments, was revealed in a letter from one of the pilots, Captain F. G. Taylor, at yesterday’s meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board. The board decided that a report on the matter should be prepared by the harbourmaster (Captain R. D. Stewart) for a special subcommittee. “I think that the harbourmaster (Captain R. D. Stewart) should be asked to bring down a report on the matter for the next meeting of the Works Committee,” said the chair man (Mr. E. A. Millward).

“It seerfis to me to be a matter of finance They seem to have an unassailable case,” said the Hon. W. J. Rogers, M.L.C.

The managing secretary CMr. I. Hedditch) explained that the pilots were formerly members of the Harbour Board Employees’ Union, but had been taken out and were now members of the Harbourmasters’ Guild. To compensate them for the extra hours which they worked the pilots were paid extra salary and received an extra week’s leave. Mr. G. C. Wells: When they are on night duty are the pilots on call o* are they on duty? “They are on duty the whole night. I know, Ipr I have been acting as a relieving pilot ■ for the past two weeks,” said Captain W. Wahlstrom. ■ Captain Stewart was at present on a month’s leave, said Mr. Hedditch. The pilots had approached him and said they would be satisfied with two hours’ overtime each day during Captain Stewart’s absence at time and ahalf rates. - “I had no idea of the long hours these men were working,” said Mr. W. F. Cummings. It made him wonder if the board was treating its pilots right and he felt that they should be met in their wishes. He thought it would have been a good thing had the pilots remained in the Harbour Board Employees’ Union as they would then know what they were entitled to and the board would know what it had to pay them. On the hours the pilots were working at present they were being paid at a rate of something less than 3s an hour.

The managing secretary said that this was only when one man was away on leave. Captain Wahlstrom: It works out at 2s 4d an hour for a 12-hour shift. There were children who had just left school who were earning nearly as much, said Mr. Cummings. He moved that a sub-committee consisting of the chairman, Mr. G. G. Burgess, Captain Wahlstrom, and himself should interview the pilot staff. The secretary said he was sorry Captain Stewdrt was away as he no doubt had the answer to the problem. The pilots were taken* out of the union at their own request and were given the extra salary and extra leave to compensate them* for the long hours. Out of courtesy to Captain Stewart, he should be asked to. furnish a report on the matter, said Mr. D. McGregor. He moved that Captain Stewart should be asked to furnish a report for submission to the next meeting of the Finance Committee. This was seconded by Mr. E. J. Kirk. The meeting decided to combine the two motions and to refer the report of Captain Stewart to the subcommittee suggested by Mr. Cummings.