CRUX OF DISPUTE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume V, Issue 457, 26 June 1937, Page 5

CRUX OF DISPUTE

AUCKLAND STRIKE Contentions Of The Men \ Press Association —Copyright. Auckland, June 25. The history of the dispute which has arisen between the Texaco, At- . lantic, Vacuum, Shell and Europa oil * 1 companies and their drivers was re«- j viewed this morning by the secretary I of the Auckland Drivers’ Union, Mr ; L. G. Matthews. He.said that negotiations had been; in progress with the companies for the Adoption of the 40-hour week for some time, but no finality had been reached. The union claimed that the oil depots were factories, and by reason of that fact the drivers were entitled to the shorter working week. Mr Matthews added that the dispute hinged on clause 2 of the Northern, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago and Southland motor and horse drivers’ award, which came into operation on December 21 lest and would remain i in force until October 31 next. Clause 11 read as follows: "Except where otherwise provided, a week's work shall not exceed 44 hours (exclusive of the time required-for necessary attendance to horses or motor vehicles), which shall be paid for j as provided in clause 3; provided that, in the case of drivers employed in industries or by establishments where any lesser number of hours per week is in operation by order of ’ the Court, or by operation of the Legislature, the weekly hours of ' work for these drivers shall be such I lesser number of hours, but with the I right to work on Saturdays where I necessary so long as such number of 1 hours is not exceeded.” Mr Matthews further stated that j there were 4000 members of the | Drivers’ Federation in New Zealand. ! In addition to the 40-hour week, they ! claimed they were entitled to pay- 1 ment for the hours worked in excess | of 40 weekly retrospective to Decern-1 ber 21 last. Following the conference between ‘ the parties with the officer in charge I of the Labour Department, Mr W. ' Slaughter, Mr Matthews said that Mr ! Slaughter submitted a proposition | that the drivers should return to I work and operate on a 40-hour week ! us from to-day pending a decision by f the Arbitnation Court on the subject I of hours. The proposal was.’ submit-! ted to representatives of the employ-) ers, but was not acceptable to them.; A deadlock has arisen, and until such i time as the employers decided to [ conform with the terms. of the laward, | the men were definitely determined i to stand out and there would be no ) delivery of c ji from the Auckland I stores. Other centres in the Dominion had ' been notified .of the local position i and’ requested to adopt a similar actmn. Drivers for other firms would not go to the oil stores to collect benzine, .and representatives of the ■ men intended to get in touch with railwaymen and suggest that they should refuse to handle railway oil wagons during the currency of the dispute.