P.O. ‘Losing Good Workers’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30880, 13 October 1965, Page 7

P.O. ‘Losing Good Workers’

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 12. The Post Office was losing many good officers from its second division occupations because no higher salary maximum was provided for long service in the section, Mr I. E. Reddish told the Post Office staff Tribunal yesterday. Mr Reddish was making a claim on behalf of the Post Office Association. No firm financial figures had been put forward, because the association was more concerned with establishing a principle at this stage. Mr Reddish said. The association had in mind the “reasonable proposition” of an increased maximum of £25 a year after five years of service, rising to an increase of £5O a year after 10 years, according to service and merit.

The tribunal, at its first sitting since 1956, is hearing three salary claims. It is under the chairmanship of Mr H. J. Thomson, a retired stipendiary magistrate. With him on the bench are Mr G. Searle (representing the PostmasterGeneral), Mr F, G. ConwayKing (Post Office Association), Mr L. W. Keys (assessor for the Postmaster-General) and Mr C. A. McLay (association assessor). Mr T. W. Martin is advocate for the department. Mr Reddish said the claim was an attempt to gain a long overdue improvement for some of the department’s lower paid workers. USEFUL SERVICE

They performed useful and important service for the community, but in the association’s opinion were not adequately rewarded and were

expected to exist on the “paltry maximum” wage of £853 a year.

“This can be broken down into a weekly gross of £l6 7s 2d. In the case of a married man with two children, deductions for P.A.Y.E., superannuation, etc. would amount to £2 Is 9d, leaving a net weekly wag of £l4 5s 5d for such officers to provide for themselves and their families. “How would you fare on such a pittance?” he asked the tribunal.

Many second division workers were forced to obtain secondary employment to help support their families at a reasonable standard of living. “This is not good from the department's view, from the country’s or from the individual’s own view,” Mr Reddish said. Mr Reddish said many

workers left in despair because they could see no rewards for long service. “The department can certainly ill-afford to disregard the consequential loss of experience and our customers should not be forced to accept the lower standard of service which must inevitably result unless loyal and efficient service in the performance of essential public services is adequately recognised. POSTMEN NEEDED “The Post Office urgently

needs good postmen, good postal assistants and good chauffeurs. These officers are often the personal contact with our customers and become the shop window of the department. “The public image of the Post Office would be improved immeasurably if all officers employed on such duties had, by virtue of years of service, achieved a high degree of efficiency and experience necessary to promote and maintain good public relations at all times,” he said.