APPLICATION FOR AWARD

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22509, 17 September 1938, Page 10

APPLICATION FOR AWARD

ENGINE DRIVERS WITH HOSPITAL BOARDS

PROSPECTS OF SETTLEMENT

(MESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, September 16. • An application for a Dominion award to cover engine drivers employed by hospital boards was heardbefore Mr M. J. Reardon, Conciliation Commissioner, at Wellington to-day. When the dispute was adjourned, ttfere appeared to be good prospects of a: settlement being reached. Agreement was reached on a number of claims, wages and hours of work being held over until tomorrow, when the employers will announce their attitude towards the amended wages claims of the workers The union sought a 40-hour week of five days. The employers asked for the right to work up to 42 hours, and 44 hours in certain hospitals, and a five, and a half day week where those hours applied. ' The amended wages. claims of the union were:— ■■ ' „, , * Shift workers. £5 12s 6d a week for workers with second-class certificate, and £5 5s for non-certificated workers'; non-shift workers, £5 7s 6d and £5 a week. The classification of engine-drivers and firemen was accepted by the employers, but the classification for fire-men-porters was held over. The union claimed 15 working days annual holiday on full pay for regular workers, ordinary, days off a week (unpaid) to run consecutively with that period, giving a total absence from duty of not less than 21 consecutive days, relieving workers to receive holidays on a pro rata basis in accordance with the period of relief duty. The employers intimated that acceptance of those claims would be subject to agreement on the other counter-proposals.