DRIVERS’ NEW AWARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3659, 22 October 1912, Page 3

DRIVERS’ NEW AWARD.

INCREASE IN WAGES GRANTED

OTHER INTERESTING PROVISIONS

The Drivers’ new award provides that a week’s ..work shall not exceed 48 hours, exclusive of the time required for necessary attendance to horses, which shall not exceed eight hours in one week. Any work other than attendance done before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. shall be paid for at overtime rates, whether or not the weekly limit shall have been exceeded. These provisions are not to apply to wooers whose hours of work are fixed by the Shops and Offices Act. Special arrangements as to hours may be made in the case of trains and steamers. Drivers may be required to bo beyond the area limits fixed by the award provided the total number of hours in the week is not exceeded. Drivers of aerated water and cordial makers’ carts shall work 48 hours per week from April to October; (iO for the rest of the year, the hours being inclusive of the time occupied for attendance to horses. One hour shall be allowed for driver if feasible. A time book shall be provided. The minimum wages shall bo: Drivers of one horse, £2 8s per week; more than one horse £2 12s per week, the wages to cover attendance to horses on Sundays, week-days and holidays. Casual drivers are to be paid Is ljd per hour where driving one horse; Is 3d for driving two or more. Overtime shall be Is 3d and Is 6d per hour, and shall commence after 91 hours’ work in any one day. In the case of casual drivers the whole time worked, including attendance to horses, is to bo comjmted as time or overtime. A driver is to be considered casual when not employed continuously for one week or more. For work done on Sundays, Xmas Day or Good Friday a casual driver shall be paid 2s (id per hour except when attending to horses, which will be paid for at ordinary rates. Youths are to be paid: 18 to 19 years, 255; 19 to 20, 30s; 20 to 21, 355. ' The number of youths shall not exceed one to 'each firm employing one driver, and one for each complete four additional drivers. Bakers may employ youths at: Under 18, 12s (id and found (or £1 dry pay); from 18 to 19, 15s or 22s Gd; 19 to 20, 18s or 28s; 20 to 21. 20s or 30s. In this case the number to be employed not to exceed one to each employer employing not more than one driver and one to each complete three additional drivers provided that any employer who is unable to find employment for a fullypaid driver may employ one youth. The minimum weekly wage in this case shall cover attendance to horses on Sundays, week-days, and holidays. Overtime and work done on holidays for youths shall be: Under 20, 9d; 20 and over, Is. The following shall be recognised holidays: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labor Day, Anniversary Day (if observed as a public holiday), Sovereign’s Birthday, Xmas Day and Boxing Day. Where any of these .olidays is generally observed on any other day, such otlu-r day shall be deemed to be the holiday. Any employer may substitute another day for the Sovereign’s birthday or Boxing Day. Holidays for drivers working for employers whose principal business is governed by another award shall be the holdays provided bv such other award. Drivers employed by fishmongers, laundry men, and aerated water makers may be required to serve customers on holidays without extra payment. The smallest amount of work reasonably practicable shall be done on such days. For work done on Sundays, Christmas Day, or Good Friday other than attendance drivers shall be paid at the rate of not less than 2s per hour and on •other holidays Is 3d. the above payments to be in addition to the weekly wages. Overtime shall be at tlie rate of Is 3d per hour. Drivers may be required to assist in loading and unloading Where 14 or more horses are kept a liian shall be provided to keep the stables clan and to mix the feed, and ‘.lie drivers shall in turn take a week on to assist him. An employer may agree to provide a driver with board at not. more than 17s per week. Wages to be paid weekly or fortnightly. A week’s notice shall be given on either side. Clauses relating to under-rate work are included. For the future, if a worker other than a youth is employed and does not join the Union within 14 days he shall be dismissed provided there is equally qualified with the non-member and ready and willing to undertake then a member of the Union who is the work. This clause shall operate so long as entrance is allowed at a fee not exceeding 5s upon a written or verbal application without ballot or other election, and the contribution does not exceed fid per week* Disputes which cannot be settled by the employer and secretary or president of the Union shall be referred to the local inspector, from whose decision an appeal may be made. The award is not to apply to any employer which is bound by the provisions of any other award in relation to drivers employed by him. Employers of drivers of vehicles and teams used by agricultural and sheep farmers, nurserymen and orehardists exclusively are exempt; also livery stable-keepers, coach, ’bus, or cab proprietors, medical men and dairymen, drivers employed solely in connection with meat works and freezing-works and country sawmillers. Power is reserved to exempt any employer who has not been joined as a party to any previous award in connection with drivers, and who is engaged in any business which has not been brought under the operation of any such previous award. The provision of the award shall not apply to any work done in connection with any contracts entered into before tho 31st clay of September. 1912, and incomplete provided notice is given. The operation of the award is limited to the area lying within a radius of 10 miles from the G.1’.0. The award shall come into force on Nev. 1, 1912, and continue until Oct, 18, 1915.