N.Z. TRANSPORT INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24903, 17 June 1946, Page 4

N.Z. TRANSPORT INDUSTRY

4 POLICY OF WORKERS DEFINED x. - OWNERSHIP BY STATE SUPPORTED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 18. Higher pay for work on Saturday* and Sundays was determined by the New Zealand Transport Worker*’ Federation at its annual conference on Saturday as its policy for all sections of the transport industry requiring to operate over the whole week. Representations for the establishment of a five-day staggered week in all sections concerned with the penal rates for Saturday and Sunday will be’ made. Delegates were quite definitely of the opinion, reported the secretary (Mr P. A. Hensen) after the conference, that employment in certain section* of the industry placed obligations on operatives which could be met only by the staggering of days. Delegates were just as definite. Mr Hansen said, in the claim that Saturday and Sunday work imposed a hardship on the workers concerned which, although very rarely given proper recognition, caused a drift away from these sections of the industry to more congenial jobs. This drift was seriously Hampering the industry. The policy laid down was one that would not only give recognition to the need for staggering in some section*, but also estabfish the principle of payment of penal rates for all work performed on Saturdays and Sundays. The conference completely endorsed the decision of the New Zealand Federation of Labour that all transport should be State owned, with the object of co-ordinatihg the whole of transport to develop, and maintain a national system by sea, road, rail, and air. This endorsement was given subject to a condition that workers in the industry should be given sufficient representation to enable them to take their share and due responsibility in the administration and management oi the system. Mr W. B. Richards, president of the New Zealand Tramway Employee* Union, was re-elected president of the federation, and Mr E. A. Napier (Waterside Workers’ Union) was reelected vice-president, and Mr P. A. Hansen (national secretary of the Tramways Union) was re-elected secretary. All were unopposed. Members of the executive are elected directly by each groun of affiliations. They are: Messrs H. T. Bishop (Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants). T. Magee (Drivers’ Union), S. W. Lane (Harbour Board employ” ees). W. A. Fox (cooks bnd steward*)* R. ,T. Smith (foremen stevedores). The executive was instructed to establish branches of the federation in all centres of New Zealand, and to take stens to ensure that the closest co-operation should apoly. not only between the head office and branches, but between branches and the trades councils of the districts concerned.