DRIVERS' DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 123, 18 February 1919, Page 6

DRIVERS' DISPUTE

. BEFORE CONCILIATION COUNCIL, WAGES SETTLEMENT REACHED By Telegraph-Press Association. Auckland, February 17. . The Dominion drivers' dispute was again before the Conciliation Council today. On resuming Mr. Pryor'said that the union's offer of =E3 7s. Od .per' week for one-horse, and £3 lls. 6d. for twohorse drivers had • been carefully considered. The employers, after long and , ejrious discussion, had come to the conclusion that if all the time worked had to be paid for, then no pay should be allowed for time not worked on holidays. The employers were prepared to offer a flat rate of ,£3 Bs. for a 48-hour week. That would allow 2s. per week above the .£3 6s. suggested as a living wage by tho Commissioner, which would compensate: to some extent for-no pay on holidays. It would realty mean Is. sd. per hour, as compared with Is. lid. per hour under the old award.

Mr. Davis pointed out that the employers might give a driver a holiday when work was slack and not pay for his time. •■• -

Mr. Pryor said that that was-not intended and would be provided against in drafting the award. It was-felt that the men would not be in such a hurry to go to races if they knew they would not be paid. With regard to the statutory half-holiday the employers asked that overtime should not bo paid until 1 p.m. ' ■ . ■ • Mr..-I'arlarie expressed surprise that the employers should consider, the driver ?pf two horses should Hot receive extra pay for increased' responsibility'. The employers would not get men ■to drive two-horse tennis for the same pay as a one-horse cart.

The for Hie union conferred for some time in private, and upon the council resuming Mr. Parlane announced that the union could not accept the offer as submitted, but the difference was not, much, aud : perhaps a settlement could yet be,reached. They objected to the deduction for holidays, and also that double hbreo drivers should get little extra pay.^ At 2.30 p.m.,' the employers having conferred during the luncheon adjournment, Mr. Pryor said that the employers still considered that their offer w-ie the best solution of the difficulty; -but if the federation wished they were prepared to pay for one-horse drivers =£3 6s, per week, and for two-horse drivers £3 Bs. 6d. per week. ■ The employers had considered the proposal made by the union. They decided to renew the offer of ,£3 Bs. per woek flat rate, with no payment for holidays, plus; stable work at Is. 4.U1. per hour, with n provision that only the'nine holidays prescribed by the award should be naid for. Mr. Pryor said that this really increased; the' pay of two-horse drivers by- about Is. Bd. ner week above single-horse • drivers. The council then went into committee.

Basis of Settlement, A settlement was reached on the wages question in the Dominion drivers' dispute by the Conciliation Council in-committee this evening. The wages agreed upon are £3 Bs. for one-horse • drivers and .£3 Bs. Cd. for two-horse,drivers, with'stable time of four and .eight hours respectively at Is. 4}d. per hour. Employers will pay for nine holidays specified in the old award. No deduction will be! made in wages save for time last through tlie worker's owu default or sickness. Machinery clauses will be considered tomorrow. . .' . • ' : ....

' THE POSITION IN WELLINGTON EMPLOYEES FILE CLAIM. ' The Wellington mast?r : -,carriers have filed with the Cierk of Awards air application for Hie hearing of this'dispute by ;the Conciliation Commissioner.. The application proposes the •'•conditions and ■wages of. the old agreement, ; plus the .addition made at the request of. tho Government. The wages arc £2 18s. a week for drivers of one horse and £3 2a. , a week for drivers of -two horse's.