Loo protesters win battle

Press, 8 July 1976, Page 1

Loo protesters win battle

Six women cleaners Mio locked themselves in a lavatory at the Christchurch Railway Station last year appear to have won their battle against the Railways Department.

The women—all parttime employees—were protesting in a novel way against the department's decision to sack them.

They failed to prevent the re-employment of women who had previously walked off the job after a dispute about conditions on the railways. But under a bill introduced in Parliament yesterday, female emoloyees of the Railways Department will have the same right of appeal against staff

appointments as all other workers.

The bill also provides that, with the approval of the General Manager of Railways, a departmental employee who has been dismissed for theft may be retired on the permanent staff.

The Minister of Railway. (Mr McLachlan) said yesterday that employees sacked from outside work for the same reason could be hired by the department.

“In justice, a railway employee should have the same rights to subsequent employment as other people who have transgressed in a similar way.” Mr McLachlan said.