PUBLIC SERVICE SALARIES

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25810, 23 May 1949, Page 3

PUBLIC SERVICE SALARIES

MR LEWIN’S COMMENT ON INCREASES P. AND T. ASSOCIATION _ CRITICISED (New Zealand Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 20. “The decision of the tribunal is identical with the decisions given recently by the Post and Telegraph and Railways Tribunals,” said the pres?* dent of the Public Service Association (Mr J. P. Lewin), commenting on a decision of the Government Service Tribunal to increase the salaries of both male and female employees in the clerical, educational and professional divisions and of other male employees. The increases are £lO a year for those with salaries not more than £175, £l5 for those with salaries between £175 and £275, and £22 for those whose salaries are more than £275. “The association did not apply to the tribunal for all it considered was due to public servants,” said Mr Lewin. “It made a purely -pro forma application for restoration of uniformity between salaries in the Public Service and those in the Railway and Post and Telegraph Departments. No evidence was called for or submitted by our association. “Problem Not Solved” “This decision does not solve the salaries problem of public servants, ’ Mr Lewin added. “As at October 1, 1947, the rates of pay of skilled workers in the State services were £35 a year behind those operating for similar occupations in outside industry. The margins and anomalies committee set up by the Government, after an exhaustive examination of evidence extending over several months, recommended that this increase was needed for October 1, 1947, to restore the salaries of skilled workers in State services to parity with ruling rates in industry. “At the stage where the Government refused to apply the recommendations of the responsible committee, the Post and Telegraph Association withdrew from co-operation with other State service organisations and took the case before its tribunal. The result of this unilateral action was that they obtained a decision which confused the 1947 salary needs with the position existing in 1949. “A further increase of £35 granted recently by the Arbitration Court to workers in industry means that a total increase of £>7o a year is needed to bring the salaries of State servants up to the level ruling in industry. The Post and Telegraph Association, by its single-handed act ; on, prejudiced this total claim of £7O to obtain more easily the £22 granted by the tribunal, and in so doing prejudiced the wage position of all State servants. However, the Public Service Associa-* tion has not abandoned its case 4 for the balance of £35 recommended by the margins and anomalies committee or for the equivalent of a £35 general wage increase, and will continue to take whatever action is appropriate.”