LONGER HOURS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 173, 24 July 1942, Page 6

LONGER HOURS

FOR BUS DRIVERS

MOVE BY EMPLOYERS

"We have received notification from our national office that the New Zealand Motor Omnibus Proprietors' Association has made application to the Industrial Emergency Council for a variation of the daily hours of work as provided for in the passenger drivers' award," said Mr. L. G. Matthews, secretary of the Auckland Drivers' I'nion this morning.

"The variations," added Mr. Matthew.-, "are: Clause 2B—This under tine award makes provision for a nine-hour day, and the employers are asking that these hours be extended. They are also asking that the hours within which the daily hours may be worked be extended also.

"Clause 2F—This makes provision for drivers being booked off for a period of not more than three hours, and the employers are asking that this period be further increased.

"Clause 2G—This provides that in every 12 shifts, three may be worked as broken shifts, and the employers in their application are asking that this proportion be increased beyond three.

"Clause 2K—This clause is framed in accordance with the transport regulations, and provides for a minimum of 10 hours off between shifts, and the employers are asking that this 10-hour break be reduced.

"Some concern is being felt among bus drivers concerning these proposed amendments, and consequently a special meeting for the bus drivers' section of the union has been called for Sunday," said Mr. Matthews.

"The union at the moment has had no intimation from the bus proprietors as to what effect the amended timetables are likely to have upon the workers."