CALLED OFF

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 September 1943, Page 3

CALLED OFF

PENDING NEGOTIATIONS STRIKE OF RAILWAY BUS DRIVERS. DEMAND FOR DOUBLE PAY ON SUNDAYS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Railway bus drivers in Wellington and at the Hutt, who had threatened to refuse work yesterday, in order to enforce their demand for double pay for Sunday work, decided yesterday morning to return to work -at noon. The decision was arrived on the understanding that a deputation would be received by the general manager of railways, Mr Casey, this morning. The meeting of railway bus drivers,, which was held at the Hutt, and was attended by representatives of the Wellington drivers, commenced at 6 a.m., and lasted for five hours. It was made clear during the meeting that, failing a satisfactory settlement of the dispute, another meeting would be held during the week to hear the report of today’s negotiations with the Railways Department. The men claim that railway bus drivers, unlike all other railway employees, including other members of the road service staff, are not paid double time for Sunday work, and are held to an award rate much below the average prevailing for drivers in privatelyoperated services. The drivers contend that they should receive the usual double rates for Sunday work. Their award wage is £6 a week less tax, with little opportunity, they say, for overtime, and broken hours that give them little regular leisure time. The meeting at the Hutt yesterday was addressed by Messrs H. E. Combs, John Hogan, and a representative of the Wellington Trades Council, Mr Fox. There were few dissentients to the decision to resume work. It was stated after the meeting that a number of waterside workers who usually travel by bus, refused to ride in the buses operated by foremen on Sunday morning, and that some walked long distances to the train.