Railway Strike Starts After Late Talks Fail

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31363, 8 May 1967, Page 1

Railway Strike Starts After Late Talks Fail

New Zealand’s first nation-wide rail strike since late 1963 began at midnight last night after the failure of late negotiations between union leaders and Cabinet Ministers.

An announcement that the 2400 members of the Railway Tradesmen’s Association would go ahead with their strike was made at Parliament Buildings at 10 p.m. by the R.T.A. secretary, Mr A. G. Goldsmith, the Press Association reported.

A few minutes earlier the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) had told Mr Goldsmith that he was unable to call an emergency Cabinet meeting to consider the association’s proposals.

The day had been spent searching for a solution. Early yesterday afternoon the Prime Minister met a delegation from the R.T.A. which sought a special Cabinet meeting to consider Its latest suggestion. Mr Holyoake later agreed to the meeting provided the association called off the strike. He investigated the possibility of a special Cabinet meeting last night, but at 10 p.m. told the R.T.A. that an emergency meeting was not practicable because a number of ministers were not in Wellington.

Mr Goldsmith said this was the one strike in industrial history which could have been averted by sufficient and timely Government interest. “We have done our utmost, with honour, to avert the strike,” he said. “We cannot agree to Government proposals that we go back to the Railways Tribunal to ask them to confirm a special award given only months ago. "Our decision to strike was made after long and sober consideration. We sincerely

regret th e real upsets which will face the public.” Mr Goldsmith said there was no indication of how long the strike might last. R.T.A. members will not receive strike money.

Mr Holyoake said he could not see why the R.T.A. could not defer its strike action till the Cabinet had a chance to examine the latest proposal today. Margin Sought The R.T.A. originally sought action on margins for skill last November. It then threatened to strike. The Government referred the association to the Railways Tribunal, which granted the 6d an hour margin. A ruling rates survey for State servants’ wage rates taken in February resulted in a 7d an hour wage lift. In Marc’, the Government announced that the margin for skill would be absorbed in the ruling rates survey increase. The R.T.A. wants the margin for skill maintained. However, negotiations between the railwaymen and Cabinet Ministers this weekend have centred on a new R.T.A. proposal that the 6d an hour margin be at least allowed to run its normal legal course so that it can be challenged, if the Government wishes, in October. The R.T.A. said it would

abide by a decision of the tribunal in October. It further told the Ministers that it would be prepared to go before the Railways Tribunal today to have the 7d rise ratified. The Ministers said they were prepared to place the offer before the Cabinet today if the R.T.A. would defer strike action. Concession Made Mr Goldsmith said yesterday the R.T.A. was giving away a lot in making its new offer. “With the present economic circumstances a wait until October might not help us.”

The Government is understood to feel that putting the matter off until October simply means postponing the present negotiations until then.

There had been no settlement when negotiations broke off after midnight on Saturday and early yesterday afternoon an R.T.A. delegation called on the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake). After an hour-long meeting, Mr Goldsmith said the proposals were still under consideration. Mr Goldsmith had earlier said he would have to know the Government’s final answer by 6 p.m. if the strike w r as to be called off. Late yesterday afternoon he said that in view of the Prime Minister’s deep consideration he would extend the deadline.

Mr Holyoake promptly told him that no decision would be made until 10. At 10 o’clock the R.T.A announced that the strike would go on as planned. It is New Zealand’s first nation-wide rail strike in over three and a half years.

The 24-hour stoppage called by the R.T.A. late in 1963 was also over a margins issue. It tied up rail services through-

rout the country for three days. There was a two-day strike called by the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants in 1962, but the 1951 A.S.R.S. stoppage ranks as the biggest since the Second World War. It lasted over Christmas and New Year. No trains or railway services buses will run for the duration of the stoppage. The stoppage will cost the country nearly £1 million a week, according to the General Manager of Railways, (Mr I. Thomas). Strike Levy If the Railway Tradesmen's Association remains on strike for more than a week, a levy will be struck to assist the families of the R.T.A. members, the Canterbury branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants has unanimously decided. Announcing this last evening, the secretary of the branch (Mr J. F. McDowell) said the meeting also agreed it should be left to the branch executive to decide the amount of the levy, should it become necessary.