Railways jobs cut?

Press, 12 August 1980, Page 1

Railways jobs cut?

The change in the Governm e n t Temporary Employment Programme policy could mean that about 80 railwaymen will lose their jobs in Christchurch over the next six months. The Government intends phasing out its T.E.P. scheme by January 31 next year. Union officials estimate that 600 jobs throughout New Zealand could be affected. Talks between the Railways Department and the National Union of Railwaymen continue in Wellington today to find a solution to the problem. “We are taking all steps available to protect the jobs of 600 members,” said the Christchurch branch secretary of the union (Mr B. T. Foley).

“If the Government goes ahead with this new policy, who is going to be left to do the work? I cannot understand what the Gov-, ernment’s intentions are, especially with unemployment so high.” The present temporary workers for the Railways, who have been holding their jobs on a long-term rather temporary basis, could be affected, the union fears. “We will keep our workers informed and if necessary we will call a stop-work meeting to explain what is happening,” Mr Foley said. Mr Foley commented on the ban on re-laying tracks in the Otira Tunnel. It was imposed six weeks ago because the union was concerned about the safety

of its workers in the tunnel. The union rejected new terms proposed by the department last week. “The Government wants to impose the same system that workers were under in the eleventh century,” Mr Foley said. Tenders for removing the stations and lifting the tracks on the WaiauWaipara line closed last Friday but the department would rpake no comment as to how many applications it received and if a tender had been let. Any work on removing the line dr the buildings is under a union ban, with backing from the Federation of Labour and the Drivers’ Union.