HOSPITAL WORKERS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 242, 14 October 1942, Page 4

HOSPITAL WORKERS

SIX-DAY WEEK ADVOCATED. In view of the difficulty of obtaining sufficient capable staff, especially for the auxiliary and emergency hospitals, the Auckland Hospital Board is to proceed with an application for permission to employ all hospital workers six days a week without payment of overtime. Following- a communication to the Industrial Emergency Council, the board to-night i eceived a letter from that body stating that it had delegated to a standing committee the investigation of all applications for alterations of hours and conditions cf awards. The quickest way in which a decision could be reached was with the co-operation of the appointed representatives of the unions concerned. The council advised the board to consult the New Zealand Hospital Boards Union of Employers, to ob~ tain unanimifcv among the hospital boards and then through that organisation to approach the Federated Hotel and Re'lated Trades' Union in an endeavour to negotiate an agreement, If no agreement was reached application should be made to the' Minister for Labour. The board decided tc pursue its application along the lines indicated, though doubts as to the wisdom of the decision were expressed by two members,.