Rail Increase Refused

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31726, 9 July 1968, Page 24

Rail Increase Refused

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 8. An application by the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants for an increase in the skilled labourers’ wage rate to provide for a margin of 7.54 per cent over the labourers’ rate has been disallowed by the Government Railways Industrial Tribunal.

The view of the majority of the tribunal in a decision released this afternoon is that it considers that the skilled labourers are not unfairly treated compared with those performing similar duties in outside industry and that although there may be anomalies they are not sufficient to justify a departure from the ruling rates survey. “The ruling rates survey is not decisive but should not be lightly departed from, and the evidence does not satisfy the majority of the tribunal that the degree of skill and responsibility is sufficient to justify a departure from the result of the survey,” the decision said. Percentage Margin The majority of the tribunal recommended to the department that it examine the duties of any skilled labourer or section of skilled labourers where the applicant considers there is a case for higher remuneration. It also acknowledges that there has been an erosion in the percentage margin between labourers and skilled labourers, but this has not

been limited to thjs class of employee. Many other sections were similarly affected, and any attempt to resolve this problem might only increase the difficulties, said the decision. A member of the tribunal, Mr F. F. Gebbie, in a dissenting opinion, said that the skilled labourer possessed a degree of skill was not disputed by the General Manager of Railways. In 1938 he valued that de-

gree at 2d hourly over the labourers’ base rate (7.54 per cent). Today he valued the same degree at 2d hourly (1.67 c or a percental margin of 1.94. He considered that the A.S.R.S. had established a case for adjustment which would restore the wage position. The constant payment of 2d since 1938 ignored the vast deterioration in money values that had taken place.