Increase in Pay For Railwaymen

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1945, Page 6

Increase in Pay For Railwaymen

FINDINGS OF TRIBUNAL

Decision To Eliminate "Genuine Grievances"

p.A. WELLINGTON, this day. A general increase of 3£d an hour has been granted by the Railway Tribunal to all second division employees, with certain other adjustments. For example, common scales have been provided for junior employees and for apprentices instead of different scales, which formerly obtained. The average increase for the second division is approximately 12 per cent. Graduated increases have been provided for the first division. The range of increases for the majority of officers is from £30 to £45 per annum, subject to the adjustment of cost of living allowances in the higher ranges. After these adjustments are made the largest group, comprising grade 6 officers, will receive a salary incref.se of £32 per annum.

'We are satisfied that the railway service there exists genuine dissatisfaction, in some cases amounting to resentment of the existing rates," the tribunal states. "While inevitably factors associated with cost of living topics intrude in many representations on wages question, we have come to the conclusion that, disregarding fluctuations in the cost of living as provided in the Stabilisation Emergency Regulations, there is justification for an increase in the existing, rates. We have, accordingly, extensively examined and discussed all aspects of the service of members of railway organisations with the appropriate assessors, and have decided that the increases should be of general application, with further adjustments in appropriate situations. In all our assessments cost of living allowances are not included. We are. satisfied that the increases authorised will not impair the economic stability of New Zealand, but, on the contrary, will remove genuine grievances and restore the morale in an organisation which plays such a vital part in the economic life of the community. In our view, such a course will promote the economic, stability of the country, and is particularly necessary for promoting the efficiency of the Department. "The new rates will operate from June 30, 1944, being the date of the lodging of the first application. As it is the Government's policy that orders should operate from a com: mon date, it will be necessary for validating authority to be obtained in respect of the applications lodged after such common date. A total of 73 claims has been presented, and consideration of the balance of these dealing with general conditions of service is now occupying the attention of the tribunal. Voluminous Eviflcnce "The tribunal stated that it wishes to express its indebtedness to the staffs of the Department, and to the representatives of the various organisations, for the almost encyclopaedic, but lucid, elaboration o'f the many factors and considerations to be reviewed by the tribunal in the performance of its functions. The evidence submitted filled 2553 foolscap Upages and, in addition, there were 1396 pages of exhibits, plans, diagrams, etc.* Wages of Tradesmen Dr. W. B. Sutch, a member of the tribunal,, made a reservation on the point of tradesmen's wages. "I cannot agree with the views of the majority of the tribunal that the hourly rate of pay fitted for railway tradesmen is thg correct one," he states. "The increase in the rate is the same as for labourers, and has been granted on the assumption that it is sufficient to maintain arithmetical differences in hourly rates in order to preserve the relative position of skilled men, compared with those working on the lowest rate of pay. Over a period of 20-odd .years, the relative position of tradesmen has gradually become worse. If the tribunal had maintained even the relative position of a tradesman on a percentage basis, the hourly rate would have had to be increased by a figure slightly more than Id per hour above the amount now granted. In the submissions of the Railway Tradesmen's Association there was ample evidence of the complexity of the work performed, and the highly skilled nature of much of this work." Dr. Sutch added that the comments of the commission of inquiry into apprenticeship were relevant to this point. The commission had referred to the need for more tradesmen, and if they were to be secured the general standard of craftmanship would have "o be improved. Dr. Sutch said he felt that to fix the wage rate for skilled tradesmen in a way that adversely altered their relative position comBared with labourers was not in the est interests either of the Railways Department or of New Zealand.