A.S.R.S. Calls Off Partial Ban

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31762, 20 August 1968, Page 1

A.S.R.S. Calls Off Partial Ban

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 19. The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants today called off its partial ban on goods operations. Union members were instructed to resume normal work from midnight tonight.

The national council of the A.S.R.S. imposed the ban on the servicing of bulk operators’ sidings and restrictions on wharf shunting last week. It resulted from a dispute over wage margins for skill.

Union representatives spent two hours on Sunday in discussion with the Minister of Railways (Mr Gordon).

The union’s general secretary (Mr N. A. Collins) said today that as a result of assurances from Mr Gordon the union had agreed to enter into negotiations with the Railways Department on the question of margins for the semi-skilled group. It would use, as a test of the Government’s sincerity, the 87.59 c an hour group, Mr

Collins said. But as there were 28 different occupational designations within the group, the union would select only a limited number on which to negotiate. The Acting General Manager of Railways, Mr J. H. O. Tiller, said he was pleased the A.S.R.S. and the depart-

ment could now enter into conciliation in the matter of margins. This would be done almost immediately. Ferry Waggons The conveyance of waggons on the Cook Strait ferries was resumed with the 6.40 p.m. sailings each way today. Mr Gordon said tonight he was pleased the A.S.R.S. had called off the ban and would conciliate. “That is what was proposed by the A.S.R.S. last Tuesday and agreed to by myself, but not then proceeded with by the society," he said. Because of the few ships at Lyttelton the bulk-loading ban had no effect at the port, according to the Lyttelton stationmaster (Mr H. T. Rasmussen). Shipping moved freely, he said.