asked the Minister for Finance what is the present position regarding the demand served by the union on behalf of men engaged on arterial drainage work, including maintenance, for (a) a 45 hour 5 day week and (b) a sick pay scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Claim of Arterial Drainage Workers.
17.
These claims have been carefully considered. The Federation of Rural Workers was informed by the Office of Public Works by letters dated the 6th February and the 2nd March, 1962, that a sick pay scheme could not be granted. It was recently decided that the demand for a 45 hour, 5 day week cannot be conceded.
Am I now to take it that it is Government policy not to keep in step with the majority of industries and local authorities throughout the country whose workers have a 45-hour five-day week?
The Deputy is aware that there is no comparison whatever between the two and that the normal working week on drainage work is 48 hours, spread over five and a half days.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary agree that it is a most retrograde step on the part of the Government to refuse to give their workers the same conditions as obtain in industry and in local authority employment generally?
On the question of sick pay, agricultural labourers are not given it. The Deputy must be aware that there is a unique position with regard to drainage work in that most of it must be done during the summer months. It would be interesting to hear the Deputy's solution for the problem of having a 45 hour week and still getting the work done.
Surely the Parliamentary Secretary is not suggesting that there is no comparison between agricultural workers and the workers concerned in the Question?
The Deputy is making an argument and not asking a question.
The majority of industries and local authorities find that they can get a full complement of work in a five day 45-hour week. Why could not the State do the same?
The Deputy is aware that normal overtime of seven hours a week is worked on these drainage schemes.
It is only to make up a decent week's wages.