BANK OFFICERS SEEK AWARD

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25732, 18 February 1949, Page 3

BANK OFFICERS SEEK AWARD

CLAIMS PRESENTED TO COURT NO EVIDENCE CALLED BY ADVOCATE (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Feb. 17. Bank officers, who said in their submissions that they were among the last of the organised workers to seek an industrial award, presented their claims before Mr Justice Tyndall in the Arbitration Court to-day. A salary scale reaching £620 in the eighteenth year of service was sought for male employees, and one reaching £360 in the twelfth year for women. Mr C. A. R. Brunt, appearing for the applicant union (the New Zealand Bank Officials’ Union) safd the union's membership of 3272, at present on a voluntary basis, comprised all ranks, from the •most senior executives to recently appointed juniors. In Scotland, he said, salary scales for bank employees reached £620, in South Africa £640, and in Ireland £748. In Australia, the Commonwealth bank scale went to £650. “We understand that the New Zealand Reserve Bank scale reaches an even higher figure,” Mr Brunt said. If the proposed salary scale were approved, it would represent merely a 50 per cent, increase since 1939, or less than half of what the Government Statistician's figures showed as having applied to the community as a whole. Mr Brunt, after referring to rush periods and the stress of work of bank employees, said: “The worry which seems to be inseparable from a banking career, largely results from the fact that officers realise that mistakes may result in very serious financial loss to themselves. There have been cases where our members, in addition to having been reduced in status, have been crippled financially for years in repaying such losses.

Retrospective Increases Wanted Another disadvantage of bank work was that it was the only occupation in which it was virtually impossible for an officer to change his employer. banks were individually close corporations so far as staffs were concerned. Mr Brunt said the union was asking that any increases granted should be retrospective to April 1, 1948. Extra pay above the salary scale was sought for accountants and branch managers. Concluding his submissions, Mr Brunt said he did not intend to call evidence, as there was a "fear complex” in the bank services which made every officer verv warv of coming forward. His Honour: Are you not aware of the provisions regarding victimisation? They are pretty drastic and are designed to protect workers. Mr Brunt: Even so, our officers feel that victimisation would be enforced. Mr Brunt added that this victimisation could be done in one way or another, including transfers. Officers had also signed as a condition of their employment that they would not divulge bank dealings. His Honour said he was rather alarmed that the fear of victimisation had been put forward, but it was nd use for an advocate to make statements without substantiating them. , . The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow afternoon.