§ Mr. John Pageasked the Postmaster-General what special arrangements regarding pay and hours worked will apply to Post Office telephonists required for day and night work on Sunday, 25th December as opposed to other Sundays during the year; what arrangements he is making to ensure that Post Office telephonists will be given two or more days off; and what negotiations he has had with the trade unions over appropriate Christmas holiday arrangements.
§ Mr. Edward ShortThe normal Sunday arrangements will apply as regards pay for telephonists working on Christmas Day, but in the special circumstances of this year staff on duty on either 26th or 27th December will be compensated on the basis appropriate for Bank Holidays and this includes a day off. These arrangements have been agreed with the Staff Associations.
Unless public demand for operator services is much lower than in recent years, nearly all the night staff will be on duty at some time on Christmas Day and on one or other of the two remaining days of the holiday, and most of the day staff will be working on 26th or 27th December.
There is close consultation with the Staff Associations on detailed duty arrangements for the Christmas period.