STORY:
Precedent Setting New Year's Eve Overtime

British rail union wins big premium for working New Year's Eve

Workers on the Docklands Light Railway have won a pay deal of nearly £800 and a day off in lieu for working a 12-hour shift during the millennium New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Some workers or labor through two of the 12-hour shifts could collect £1,560.

A spokesperson for the rail line told the London Evening Standard that the deal sets a huge precedent and many of the passenger train companies besides London Underground currently having talks with the unions will be in shock. Currently, these companies are deciding about how much to pay their staff who may have to work over the millennium holiday.

The biggest payments will go to train maintenance staff and controllers who look after the DLR's automatic system. These people normally earn up to £14.50 an hour. The specially agreed 12-hour shift at two and a half times the rate comes to £435. Add to that the £350 bonus and it comes to £785.

Train " captains " who have a guard/emergency driver role on the automatic trains which do not have a conventional driver will earn £576 for an eight hour shift. This consists of two and a half times usual pay of £11.30p an hour coming to £226 for eight hours plus the bonus £350.

Source: London Evening Standard

DATE: 6/24/99

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