Court’s Ruling On Bus Dispute

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31007, 12 March 1966, Page 17

Court’s Ruling On Bus Dispute

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 11.

Public demand must control transport systems and duty rosters of men serving those systems, said the Court of Arbitration in a judgment against union workers in a national dispute which caused stop-work meetings throughout New Zealand last year.

Under the requirements of the New Zealand public passenger transport authorities’ workers’ award, days off posted on roster keys could be varied, said the decision. The Court had been asked by the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr C. L. Hunter) to rule on the matter after the transport authorities and the Public Passenger Transport Authorities’ Employers’ Union had been unable to reach agreement in conciliation. “The question posed to the Court by the Commissioner was whether or not variation of days off in the posting of day-off roster keys complied with the requirements of the award,” said the decision.

“Our answer to this is yes.” “The roster system is affected by the variable demands of the public. The evidence showed quite clearly that there was varying demand for transport and thus a varying demand for men to be on duty. “The employing authority has to reconcile as best it can its duty to its public with its obligations to its workers.” On this matter, the award said days off should be “equitably distributed,” not “evenly distributed.” The Court held this meant days off should be distributed in a fair and impartial manner, taking into account the exigencies of the service. “We cannot agree that these days off must be regular. We would agree that they should be as regular as possible, but the varying demands of the public prevent regularity of days on and off.