UNREST SEEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 109, 11 May 1939, Page 12

UNREST SEEN.

IN PUBLIC SERVICE. DELAYED DECISIONS. I — — OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS. OVERTIME DISSATISFACTION. Pii-iiiiilen) exi-lrt for weveral rrii«nn<t nmong members of the Public Service, in which a fee'ing nf rc-<ti\'ciic«rt i* nris ing a« the result of the Go\erument delaying ilt derUinn on a number of inipiirtiiul mill f€•!■-». mending to this month's iwsiie of the "Public Service Journal." "We are no'., unmindful of the fact Ilia' the Government is grappling with major problems nf State, but this docs not warrant the continued postponement of determination on the junt claims of its employees," the publication statee in an editorial. "It is true that considerable improvements have been effected in Public Service conditions since the present Government has been in power —restm:il ion of salary reductions; improvements in on la rips and scales throiiirli the general rrffrnding; and reduction of hours. Important Issues. "There are, however, questions of con. siderahlo importance still requiring attention:—Restoration of certain rights of appeal; payment of salaries fortnightly; appointment of qualified temporary employees to the permanent staff; restoration to General Division employees of additional week's annual leave, on completing ten years' service; improvement in boarding allowance for cadet*; extension of basic wage at 21 years of agu to tho Public Service; minimum award rate of pay to artisans; extension of clerical award wages to permanent and temporary clerical workers who nro 20 yonw of age: improvement in rates of travelling allowance; and conditions and rates of pay for overtime/.

In expanding these point*, the joui'nnl mentions tlmt the rapidly increating number of temporary employees who have tho o,un I Mention* to bp plnccd on the permanent *tnff lnit who ure retained on a temporary banie, with nil the consequent disadvantage*, is n dellnitn rentton for unrest among certain groups. The withholding of an additional week's leave uh a reward for contiiiuoiM employment i<* another caueo for discontent. Thoi fainb rettponee of the Public Service G'otninwuionei' to representations on the question of an Increase in boarding allowance for cadets living away from home apparently indicate* that he tine. little knowledge of the heavy commitment* for living expenses of cadets under 21 yearn of age, the journal eays. "Until the Government takee eome step* to bring the Public Service into line with minimum wages out*lde the service there will be dissatisfaction," it Iα further etated. Another point made, iM-iiiing on travelling allowances, Iβ that the State ehould not permit any public HcvvMit tr» be out of- pocket eo- far as legitimate travelling ' expellees •!% con-cpi-nod, iwtd nothing 'U** tun areasoniihie Increase in travelling rates will meet the caee. Overtime Gfievancti. "The question which to causing ae much heart-burning as any in the Public Service at the present moment relate* tn the condition* and payment for overtime," the editorial continues. "The present rates range from 1/0 an hour for officers receiving not more than £180 * year, to 3/0 an hour for officer* receiving £980 to £'470. They are «o much below , rartW* tWat are paid to workers outride the Public Service that It is astonishing that the Government him permitted them to remain without amendment for over three year*." It is pointed out also that no provirion Iβ made for overtime for an officer receiving over #470 a jtear, and in addition the regulations fix a maximum to the amount "payable for overtime worked by an officer during any calendar month. "There are • number of Departments regularly working overtime, by reason of volume of work or shortage of staff, in which no overtime whatever Iβ being paid for, the most notable instance being possibly the Public Works Department," it is stated, In some Departments the Public Service Commiaeioner has approved of overtime being paid for work in excess of 40 hours a week, instances being the Customs and Social Security Departments, in whMh the staffs are working overtime at the rate of four to five nights a week. The fact still remains, however, that they are being remunerated at m totally Inadequate rate, "We feel that the Government cannot reasonably delay further in making its decisions on all these questions—that it, if they desire to play fair with their own employees," the editorial concludes.