NO AGREEMENT REACHED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22518, 28 September 1938, Page 8

NO AGREEMENT REACHED

LOCAL BODY OFFICERS’

DISPUTE

HOURS NOT TO EXCEED FORTY A WEEK

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TBI.ECiRAiT.) WELLINGTON, September 27. After a two-day hearing, the Wellington district local bodies’ officers’ dispute in Conciliation Council was adjourned until October 10. No agreement was reached on any of the major points. A diversity of opinion was evident among the workers themselves when Saturday morning work was under discussion, though Mr G. M. Renner, secretary of the union, contended that he had been advised by a majority of members that they did not want Saturday work. Mr Harding (Town Clerk of Hastings): But when they want to work on Saturdays you should not prevent them doing so. “Friday is a real nightmare now since this five-day week came in,” said Mr E. P. Norman, Town Clerk of Wellington. "I know a lot of our fellows would rather be able to work on Saturdays. but I don’t suppose they tell Mr Renner that.”

It was finally agreed that where employees desired to work on Saturday mornings they should not be prevented from doing so, although they must work a 40-hour week. “My staff will be glad to know that.” said Mr Harding. “Although lam employers’ assessor here, they asked me to see that they were not prevented from working the hours ihey want.” He said that he had px-eviousjy explained that they worked daylignt saving hours, and apparently preferred to be able to get away early in the afternoon and work on Saturday mornings than be compelled to go to work early in order to have Saturday mornings free. The convenience of farmers'also entered into the argument.

Outdoor Officers

It was agreed that hours should not exceed 40 a week, to be allocated to suit the convenience of the local body, provided that in cases where Saturday morning work is not done at the date of making an award, the hours are not to be extended to Saturdays. No agreement could be reached on the hours of outdoor officers and supervising officers. The employers pointed out that these men might be required to deal with emergencies, which made it necessary that their hours should be spread as required. Mr Renner objected to supervising officers being asked to work longer hours than the men they were supervising without any compensation. He was not even prepared to discuss the employers’ proposal that, where unusual hours of work were dictated by the exigencies of ffublic service, the hours of work might be extended to 10 in any one day, and over seven days, a week, provided the hours did not exceed 120 in three weeks.

It was agreed that certain specified officers should be regarded as emergency officers, who could be called to work on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, provided they were not worked more than five eight-hour days in any week.

Mr Renner would not agree to no extra payment, and the question of recompense was held over.