EXCEPTION TAKEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 237, 6 October 1936, Page 15

EXCEPTION TAKEN

RAILWAY SERVICE. MR. MACKLEY'S STATEMENT. OFFICERS COMPLAIN. I (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The Dominion executive of the New Zealand Railway Oflicers' Institute lias issued a statement taking strong exception to remarks made by the general manager of railways, Mr. G. H. Mackley, at Auckland on Saturday evening, respecting the application of the 40hour week to the first division of the service. The institute," which represents the official and clerical staffs, asserts that there is serious dissatisfaction among its members owing to differential treatment accorded them during the transitory period following the introduction of the 40-hour week principle. It is claimed that a period of time must elapse before- full effect can be given to the 40-hour week owing to substantial adjustments in staffing arrangements being necessary, and also 011 account of the approach of the busy Christmas and New Year period. The executive states that the general manager failed to fulfil his promise to include representatives of the institute in a conference which 'took place between the management and other staff organisations to discuss the application of the 40-hour week. "First division members do not receive payment for time worked in excess of 40 hours a week, although payment is granted to clerical staffs, of other branches of the Public Service," says the executive. "The general manager has persisted in his contention that payment to one section of employees and 110 payment to others does not constitute inequality of treatment. Service Conditions. "Members of the workshops, locomotive, traffic and other branches of the service (known as the second division) are now paid a full week's wages for 40 hours' work, while for time worked between 40 and 48 hours a week sucli members are paid additional wages at their ordinary hourly rate of pay, which varies from 10 to 20 per cent more than the rates existing prior to September 1 last. On completion of 48 hours a week second division members are paid at one and a quarter times the | new hourly rate. The general manager's i reference to service conditions appli-1 cable to first division members, such as annual leave, sick pay, etc., is considered to be misleading, in that such conditions were in operation years before the 40-hour week was contemplated. Various conditions applying to all sections of the railway service have therefore 110 bearing whatever. on the differential treatment accorded first division members in connection with the operation of the 40-liour week. "Respecting regrading, the institute affirms that the Railway Board degraded many positions during the depression and abolished others, but the general manager is now most reluctant to restore positions and gnuliiigs commensurate with the increased duties and responsibilities now prevailing. Other... branches of the Public Service have'"received much ; more reasonable treatment regarding, goodwill promotions. It is interesting to note that the gen'eral manager is still undecided, although the classification list was due on April 1, and lias not yet been published. Other branches of the Public Service have already benefited substantially from goodwill promotions."