asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that in some post offices in Ireland night telephone attendants with seven years' service work seven nights per week, involving a total of 66½ hours duty for a weekly wage of £3 6s. 6d.; that they are allowed only seven days' annual leave and get no extra pay for bank holiday work; and, if so, whether he will take steps to improve the conditions of these officers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Attendants' Working Conditions.
There is one case where the pay and hours of attendance of a night telephone attendant are as stated in the question. The hourly rates of pay for telephone attendants are uniform throughout the country. Having regard to the light nature of the duties required, they compare reasonably with the rates of pay now existing in the post office. So far as attendance on public holidays is concerned, the officer is treated in accordance with the provisions of the Holidays (Employees) Act; he gets seven days' annual leave and is entitled either to a day in lieu or to one-fourth extra pay.
The attendance of the officer covered by the question is non-wakeful, that is to say, the volume of night telephone traffic is small and he is provided with sleeping accommodation.