A.S.R.S. ATTACK

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32524, 6 February 1971, Page 2

A.S.R.S. ATTACK

Remarks on unions (N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 5. Remarks reported to have been made by the national secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (Mr N. A. Collins) at the Wellington conference on Tuesday, were objected to by the secretary of the Otahuhu branch (Mr C. Duffy) today. Mr Duffy said the remarks included that there should be “some curtailing of individual union action” to stabilise the economic situation. "The branch considers that the general secretary, whom we believe is paid about $6OOO a year, should be placed on the same rate of pay as labourers—sl.ol an hour—and see if he would like to keep his family on their wages,” said Mr Duffy. It appeared that the general secretary had forgotten that he represented a trade union when he said that 'railwaymen’s wages had kept ahead of the price increases of the last two years. "A large majority of A.S.R.S. members are on low wages and are solely dependent on the handout from the ruling rate survey and overtime to supplement their income,” he said.

“It is deplorable that a trade union leader should advocate the curtailing of wage action while the profiteers are having a field day and the increase in the cost of living is still rising re-| gardless of the present price; freeze.”

For Mr Collins to say that; railwaymen’s wages had keptj ahead of the price increases; was incorrect, as the A.S.R.S. ■ recently took a wage claim to the tribunal. I