Tribunal Finds For Dunedin Tramwaymen

Chronicle (Levin), 18 June 1948, Page 5

Tribunal Finds For Dunedin Tramwaymen

Press Associationi

(Per

WELLINGTON, June 17. The claim of the' NewZealand Tramwavs Emplovees' TTnion on the principal issue in the recent Dunedin tramways dispute ,has l)een upheld' by the decision of the emergency Disputes Oonimittee announced tonight by Deputy Judge Dalgleish, ehairman of the committee. The decision, whicli applies on a national basis, rules' that workers eniployed as drivers and operators must be classified and paid as such from the date they first act as such in traffic. At- the same time it is rulcd that the employing authority ha'-; the right at any time to reduce the nuuiber of men it reqnires to be eniployed as drivers or operators, and in such case the men concerued would go back to their former position and 'pay. The Dunedin dispute arose when the Dunedin City Council ceased paymenv to acting drivers and-acting operators at full drivers' and operators' pay. The issue was placed before the Natiomil Emergency Disputes Committee in Wellington for settlement. A similar issue had arisen also in Auckland on a slight ly difi'erent basis, and in this case the saine decision applies.

The committee was also asked to determine on a national basis whether ghift workers who did not normallv work on Sundays and who did not work on Anzac Day ( which fell on a Sunday) should receive payment for Anzac Day. Judge Dalgleish ruled that the workers invoived were entitled under the terms of the original decision governing the industry to receive an extra day's pay for Anzac Day even though that day ! fell on a day when they were normallv ' off duty. Mr. A. Hansep, national secretary oi the Tramways Union, said the decision was just what the union coniidently exi pected. It was the only interpretation I which could be placed on the terms -oi I the rnain, tribunal decision governing tlie industry. Surely this decision would eonvinee tlre most sceptical that the blame for the recent stoppage in Dunedin did not rest on the shoulders oi the workers. Mr. R. E. . Dawsori, secretary of the Public Passenger Tvansport Associn tion, the employing authorities' organisation, said although the decision was in f avour of the workers, it was pointed out that before the recent strike in Dunedin it had already been agreed that the issues now settled by the committee would go before the committee. The judgment specifieally mentioned the commbn law rights whicff the local authority had to reduce the number of operators or drivers. The precipjtate action taken by the union was quite contrary to the public interest and was indefensible. '