TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24911, 26 June 1946, Page 5

TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES

NEW AWARD-IN FORCE

Increases in pay for some employees and -alterations m the working conditions for others are made by the new Christchurch Tramway, Omnibus, and PowerHouse Employees’ Award, which came into force recently, and which will remain in force for a year. In the new award the minimum wage rates for the various classes of workers remain the same as at present, with the exception of cleaners on night work, who are to be paid 2s HJd an hour, an increase .of Id an hour. Wages are to be paid weekly, not later than Thursday. In’ the traffic section, when a week’s work includes a Sunday, Anzac Day. Christmas Day, or a Good Friday, a minimum of eight hours, to be completed within 11 hours and with not more than one break, will be provided on each of those days. Double time rates will be paid for all work done on any such day. An additional Id an hour will be paid for all broken shift work. All broken shifts will be completed within 11 hours, and work will not be performed outside a 12-hour spread, and time worked outside the H-hour spread will be paid for at double time rates. The ratio of broken shifts to night shifts will not exceed one broken shift in four. Motormen and conductors when required to report for call-forward, callback, or early start duty, will receive a minimum payment of two hours at overtime rates. Employees reporting for wet weather call-forwards and not required will be paid one hour at overtime rates. Work which it is not possible to incorporate in the rosters for the purpose erf providing the minimum of 40 hours a week will be deemed to be "extra work,” whether such work is in the nature of a call-forward or a call-back or an early start. An additicmal 3d an hour will be paid to pny worker undertaking the training of a student for the position of motorman. Shift workers in the permanentway section are to receive 3d an hour extra.

In the workshops and car-shed sections, day workers who are required to work in the pits are to receive an additional Ijd an hour.

In a dissenting opinion, the employers’ representative, Mr W. Cecil Prime, said that the Court amended the expired award in respect of rates of pay as recently as September 12. 1945, and he did not agree that the further increases and alterations in conditions now awarded were warranted.