A.S.R.S. Concerned Over Possible Redundancy

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30626, 17 December 1964, Page 17

A.S.R.S. Concerned Over Possible Redundancy

Three hundred members of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants held a onehour stop-work meeting yesterday to discuss possible redundancy brought about by the opening of the new transit sheds at Lyttelton. A joint statement was later issued by the branch chairman (Mr T. Sweeney) and the branch secretary (Mr G. Finlayson). The meeting carried three resolutions unanimously. The first resolution said that railway goods shed workers were conscious of the changes taking place inside the transport industry and were not unmindful of the benefits accruing to certain sections of the community with the opening of the transit sheds. They called upon the Minister of Railways (Mr McAlpine) to state publicly the department’s provision for redundant railway workers who, by reason of their non-permanent status, could find themselves in an untenable position.

Most of these workers had served the Railway Department in various capacities over a period of years. Age would prove an obstacle on a competitive labour market, the resolution continued. “We seek an assurance from the department that no dismissals will be made until consultations are held with the A.S.R.S. and questions concerning redundancy are dealt with,” said the resolution.

A second resolution said there should be an equitable distribution of overtime.

Messrs Sweeney and Finlayson said some concern was expressed at the department’s action in employing part-time workers who were in an under-age group. The feeling of the meeting was that if these people were to be employed, steps should be taken to see that they received equal pay for equal work. A third resolution stated that if, as a result of the transit sheds, there was redundancy in the labour force employed in the Christchurch goods sheds, steps should be taken by the Government to end the employment of superannuitants who had been re-employed on jobs that could be satisfactorily

performed by many of the branch's own members. “An alarming feature Is that not only do these superannuitants receive what is in effect a double payment, but they are also given equal consideration in the distribution of overtime,” Messrs Sweeney and Finlayson said.