THE PRESS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1978. Union view on train service
The Railways Department has resolved upon an economy in the running of passenger trains on a Wellington suburban line The railway unions object and want Sunday trains restored. Unless the department can be shown to have misjudged what should be done in the interests of providing an economic service to passengers, the union objection is quite out of order.
By deciding that only a bus service should be provided, the department appears to have made a sensible step towards cutting its losses on a train service that has been used by no more than a handful of passengers. Pressure from the unions, or from any other quarter, to maintain an unw’anted train
service is inconsistent with an efficient transport system operated at least cost. Apart from any argument about the legality of the procedure followed by the unions in holding the strike that has crippled or disrupted both passenger and goods services in the Wellington area and beyond, the union objection looks distinctly weak. Even so. the union view on the department’s decision should be heard If it is no more than that the service continue regardless of expense, it must be firmly rejected. Such a view makes no economic sense and is unlikely to win any popular support As a precedent for other decisions in transport or any other industry it would be disastrous.
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Press, 21 February 1978, Page 16
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236THE PRESS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1978. Union view on train service Press, 21 February 1978, Page 16
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