REFUSAL TO TRAIN NEW RAILWAY APPRENTICES

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32430, 17 October 1970, Page 3

REFUSAL TO TRAIN NEW RAILWAY APPRENTICES

(Netb Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 16. Apprentices taken on by the Railways Department after January, 1971, would be refused training by Railway Tradesmen’s Association members, the association conference agreed today.

The association’s national president (Mr D. A. Crosodo) said in a statement today that the conference made the decision with regret. “Last night the Government made an offer to the R.T.A. and it was rejected on three basic points,” he said.

“The offer does not in the slightest way overcome the main problem of dislocation of internal relativity. The Minister of Railways (Mr Gordon) conceded this point.

‘lt was only an interim adjustment against what would be paid us in the October ruling-rates survey and, further, some of our members would be excluded from i this adjustment. “The offer was conditional ion us taking no action, such as directing members not to ’ train apprentices. “The Railways Department ■not only is the single largest •employer of apprentices, but |has the reputation of having ithe last comprehensive apOil survey south of Manukau Hbr (N.Z. Press Association) i WELLINGTON, Oct. 16. Hematite Petroleum (N.Z.), Ltd, announced today that a field operation would start next week on a short seismic i survey in selected areas south of Manukau Harbour, in the Auckland area. The work will be done bv Geophysical Services International, which will be based at Pukekohe.

’ prenticeship training scheme | in the country. However, because of the Government’s insistence on legislation that ignores the realities of the situation, there has been a continuing exodus of tradesmen to outside employment, where higher remuneration can be found. “The R.T.A. can no longer accept this situation. “Accordingly we have to advise those parents or guardians of boys who were contemplating entering into a contract of apprenticeship with the Railways Department next January not to do so, Our tradesmen members and instructors will not train them for the simple reason that the end result is not worth-while. “The loss of tradesmen from the Railways Department’s workshops has become so serious that apprentices are being used more and more to fill the gaps. This is simple exploitation of cheap labour. The R.T.A. is not prepared to be a party to this.” “Irresponsible” The action of the association in threatening to stop training apprentices was not only irresponsible but one which could cause hardship to the country in general and Ito sister unions within the railways, the Minister of Railways (Mr Gordon) said in i a statement today. If the Government were to I yield to the association’s ■ claim for $1.60 an hour as a 1 basic common rate for all indentured tradesmen it would mean the Government rates would be well ahead of outside remuneration. “In matching outside rates and. having regard to fringe benefits, the Government, as an employer, should attract its normal share of available lapprentices,” he said. “I have had three meet- • ings with the R.T.A. and all efforts to find a solution to the problem have been made. The Government finally made a wage offer to the association in an attempt to ensure that prospective apprentices could be assured of a fair remuneration on certification. “This has been turned down; but the Government stands firm on this, and cannot pay the R.T.A. a common rate for tradesmen on the •conditions they seek. “The R.T.A. knows full well that the Railways can negotiate single service pay rates autonomously, but any application with inter-service relativity must be dealt with either through or with the permission of the Combined State Service Organisations. “The R.T.A. also knows | full well that if negotiations : break down, as they have at ! present, then under the law ■ there is the right of appeal to an independent authority. “The Railways admitted i that the number of apprentices within the department has dropped, but this is hardly due to wage rates. “Throughout the country there is a shortage of apprentices, and the action of the R.T.A. in threatening to with-

hold training will do little to help the situation, and the Government will be forced to look for remedial action if such a threat becomes policy.” Offer to society Results of negotiations today between the Amalgamated Society bf Railway Servants and Government representatives will be discussed by the Cabinet on Monday and by the national council of the society at a special

meeting on Tuesday, the council’s president (Mr N. A. Collins) said tonight. The parties met briefly this afternoon in the office of the chairman of the Cabinet Committee on State Services (The Minister of Education, Mr Taiboys). Mr Collins said after the meeting that the union was seeking parity in wages with other sectors of the transport industry. The Government had made an offer, but he was not prepared to say what it was.