RAILWAY CRISIS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 250, 21 October 1919, Page 8

RAILWAY CRISIS.

L ' MEN'S ORGANISATION OFPOS RAILWAY BILL. i SHARP CRiTIOISM OF SALARY 1 increases. j protest to railways com mitt] (By Telegraph.—Special to \Star.") WEL/UUNX/TOX, Monday. Railwaynien are seriously perturb over the proposed changes in the cla-sei cation syxtein embodied in the Govei men* Railways Amendment Bill. T position is so acute that the Executi Council of the Amalgamated Society I Railway iServnntd hold a special sittii during the week-end, anfl iit is evide thaft the agreement arrke<l at a ft months ago, following lengthy npgoti f tions, will .bo re-opened, as the men co . sidor the Railway Management guilty ( a gross breach of faith in the manner which it proposes to amend the elaesi ' at ion system. ■Strong exception is taken to the pi ! posjil that any member may be promot to any position by the general manap , if he was of opinion that the partieul , individual lias special merit or abilit Officers of the Amalgamated Society <] , olare that the classification system* w , built up carefully to avoid fiivouriti? U the aervico, but the general liianag now proposes to reintroduce this dv , bcrtiuse clas.<ificfl.tion properly admin ', tercd gives every opportunity for a : vancement of capable men. There ie , practice no' chance of euuHMxful nppo against the general manager's anbitra derision under tliis new clause, as t 1 Ministerial veto is exercised under t advice of the general man.igcr. "Whilnt tho Hallway Society recognis that the present clarsilication syjl.em h-, detects," its olliccra state tlwit they , prepared to consider reasonable pr ponsils for improving the efficiency of tl service, but they resent the introductu of what they term a revolutions: change without consulting the organic tions concerned. A SALARIES CONTRAST. It is pointed out that the hill mak provision for the transfer of war bo inn to wages representing L+s per annul which is not regarded as an i< ' the reason that no change in wajjea In taken place for three years prior to tl The men's oflicials consider it partic larly inappropriate at a time when thi have documentary proof that marrii members of the second division arc n* receiving enough to pay clu-ir way, ai that the department should provide i creaece to £i">o a year, and one case iTtfO. These increas to high ofTiciale, mi«t of whom v eligible to retire, constitutes a gift filOO per annum extra sup<>raiiniiatii to men already entitled to retire i £400 to £500; although the gener manager has just had to report t Parliament that the fund is serioiis overloaded and requires actuarial inve tigation, with immediate substanti. incroaee in Government subsidy. The resuH of these proposals in tl bill is that the AiS.R.S. Executive w go before the Railways Committee I strenuously oppose ihe passing of tl measure in ite present shape.