PAYING MARGINS FOR SKILL

Press, Volume C, Issue 29526, 30 May 1961, Page 18

PAYING MARGINS FOR SKILL

Views Of Addington Railwaymen

“While we agree with the holding of Technical Training Week, we know from practical experience as tradesmen that it does not help the shortage of tradesmen and technicians because equal or higher remunerations are paid to workers not possessing this knowledge and skill.” said Mr W. E. Flavell. secretary of the Addington branch of the Railway Tradesmen’s Association, in a statement issued after a committee meeting yesterday. “This is borne out by the reluctance of lads to take on apprenticeships, and is also the reason for the exodus of apprentices from the railway service, as stated by the General Manager of Railways (Mr A. T. Gandell) last year,” the statement said. “We are of the opinion that the only solution is the pay. ing of adequate margins for technical knowledge and skill. Youths of today, through economic necessity, are forced to enter other fie’ds of employment to provide homes for themselves and their wives.

“It takes nearly 20 year’s before an aporentice tradesman reaches the total income of an unskilled worker. This is apart from purchasing tools of trade and text books Coupled with this is the need for present-day apprentices to attend technical evening classes in their own time, for which they receive no reward. “The crux of the whole matter is the failure of the Government and the employers to pay adequate margins for skill." the statement said.