OVERTIME REFUSED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26634, 3 December 1947, Page 6

OVERTIME REFUSED

SHIPWORK SECTION OF UNION ARBITRATOR’S RULING REJECTED P.A. WELLINGTON, Dec. 2. Despite the ruling of an independent arbitrator that battening work should be done on the New Zealand Shipping Company’s liner Ruahine at the weekend, the members of the shipwork section of the Waterside Workers’ Union declined the overtime involved, and the preparation of a large hold for loading is being done in ordinary working hours.

The employers desired the particular hold to be “ battened out ” by carpenters after the cargo had been discharged, so that cooling down, in readiness for loading, could be begun on Sunday night and completed possibly by to-morrow. To leave the work after the week-end would, they stated, involve a delay of one or two days in the operations on that particular hold.

The union was asked to undertake week-end work, and when it refused, the question was referred to the local Disputes Committee. No agreement was reached by the committee, and the question was submitted to an independent arbitrator. Although he ruled that week-end work should be done, the men still declined overtime. According to the award provisions, the Disputes Committee is empowered to disallow Sunday or holiday work if the union N is able to show that no dplay will result by not performing the work. Even when a-ruling is made that overtime should be undertaken, the men are individually entitled to decline additional duties.