THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF BACK PAY INVOLVED

Chronicle (Levin), 14 December 1946, Page 5

THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF BACK PAY INVOLVED

-Press Association

By Telegravh—

' WELLINGTON, Dee. 13. Thousands of jiounds in back and Current holiday pay for workers in several major industries are involved in a deeision of tlie Court 'of Appeal announced yesterday. Under this deeision the Court refused to allow the employers to take to the Privy Couneil a aispute over a bakcry worker's elaim for back holiday pay fronr Ivent 's Bakeries Ltd., of Auckland. A Bupreme Court judgment had previously granted to the worker additionai holiday money, ealculating his holiday "pay on the basis not only of tlie weekly wage in ordinary liours, but also on the worker's average inconie by way of additionai peualty rates normally eamed. Tlie applieation of this .principle to other industries, it is stated, would in volve additicna! payment to many workers under other awards and would run into large sunis. Tlie signi/icanee of the deeision is indicated in tlie desire of tlie employers to dispute this judgment. as far as the Privy Couneil. Now that permission for this has been refused the New Zealand Baking Trades' Employees' Union has immediately prepared to issue claims involving some thousands of pounds for bakery workers afl'ected by the deeision. Tlie claims go back to 1944, and with tho current season includod will involve an additionai £12 to every worker involved. How tlie ilecision applies to other inlustries was a matter disputed in tlie Gourt, but it is expeeted that the issue will be raised immediately in tlie light. of the Court 's ruling.