Anniversary Holidays Highlight Pay Problems

"A recent Court of Appeal decision could lead to reduced payment for many workers on holidays such as Monday's Wellington Anniversary Day," said Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson today. An Appeal Court decision at the end of 2002 endorsed a meat company's decision to pay a 'non production' hourly rate for public holidays, rather than a rate based on average wages received in the preceding weeks.

"It is not unreasonable for workers to expect normal pay on public holidays, rather than a reduced rate," said Ross Wilson.

"It should be paid on the same basis as annual leave."

The Government is expected to introduce Holidays legislation in the next few months.

Ross Wilson said the CTU would push even harder for an amendment to the Holidays Act to ensure workers received full rates of pay on holidays.