A.S.R.S. Action May Spread Through S.I.

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30795, 6 July 1965, Page 16

A.S.R.S. Action May Spread Through S.I.

The “work-to-rule” imposed by the Canterbury branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants from 4 p.m. yesterday is predicted by society officials to spread widely throughout the South Island within the next 48 hours. A.S.R.S. “sympathy meetings” are scheduled at two key railway branches in the South Island today to decide whether a “work-to-rule” will be implemented there.

Both of these branches are at main South Island ports. Many other A.S.R.S. branches in the South Island are expected to follow suit bv holding meetings of members to decide whether to give active support in the “work-to-rule.” Late last evening the only train delays were to two trains outbound on the north line, a railways official said. However, it was a little early to say what the final effect would be. All suburban passenger services were on time One goods train, with a passenger car. left Christchurch about two hours and a half late. Part of this delay was caused by the 25-minute late arrival of the south express, which had been held up near Oamaru by an engine defect in another train. The delay to the other train held up a switch-over. The rest of the goods trains’ delay was caused by the “work-to-rule." A second goods train outbound on the north line was delayed for about three quarters of an hour by the “work-to-rule." A.S.R.S. officials in Christchurch late yesterday said that they were “quite confident” the “work-to-rule” would disorganise the South Island railway system by late today. The biggest effect, they said, was at the marshalling yards at the Christchurch main station. “Shunting to Rules” “Everything is being done strictly as the rule book lays it down,” said one official “Shunting tractors are doing about one mile an hour. “All A.S.R.S. men from 4 p.m. today have been taking the utmost safety precautions. “They are shunting so slowly they are practically stopped. All their work is slowing down considerably. “The employers want to abide strictly by the rule book, so our boys are sticking to them right to the letter.” The A.S.R.S. official predicted that within two days the “work-to-rule” would have spread widely in the South Island. He said that before long the 17 A.S.R.S. branches in the South Island could be affected. Some of these were relatively small. But other points, such as Greymouth, had 400 A.S.R.S. members. Lyttelton, with a big complement of shunters, was a vital point with some 60 to 70 members. Places like these, he said, could quickly become bottlenecks. The effect of the “work-to-rule.” he said, would be quickly felt from Invercargill to Picton. Picton, he said, was a small yard, but it was an important

one in this dispute because of Aramoana traffic. “You will find that it will have a big effect on Gandell’s yacht,” he said. The “work-to-rule” does not yet appear to be affecting Timaru. All trains and the south-bound rail-car were running strictly to time-table last night, reports the Press Association. Timaru railwaymen appear to be uncertain on how they

are expected to react to the Christchurch decision. It seems there has been no specific instruction sent to any section under direct Christchurch control that the society’s directive is to be enforced in Timaru. The chief stationmaster, Mr J. W. C. Blair, who took up his duties only yesterday, said the society’s decision had no significance as far as Timaru was concerned.