Dispute about earmuffs

Press, 8 July 1982, Page 4

Dispute about earmuffs

Work at the Christchurch railway yards is being hindered by a dispute about earmuffs between the Locomotive Engineers’ Union and the National Union of Railwaymen.

Some engine drivers at the yards have started wearing earmuffs as a protection against noise. The N.U.R. considers that this is dangerous because the drivers would' not hear a warning shout from someone “down on the metal.”

For the last few weeks, members of the union have refused to work with engines where the driver is wearing earmuffs.

“The safety of the men is at stake if the driver is not able to hear anything," said the union’s national president, Mr George Finlayson. “The corporation should make sure the engines are soundproof rather than pro-

viding earmuffs,” he said. Mr Finlayson said that the N.U.R. was willing to meet the Locomotive Engineers’ Union but the latter had shown no interest.

Mr R. J. Davidson, branch secretary of the Locomotive

Engineers’ Union,-said that the earmuffs were issued by the Railways Corporation after being tested and approved by the Health Department and the Accident Compensation Corporation. They did not restrict hearing, he said.

“The earmuffs cut out loud noises that damage ears, but they allow you to talk to people and hear what they are saying without any trouble,” he said. “In some instances, the Health Department has said that persons wearing these earmuffs can hear others better with them than without.” The issue had become emotional, he said.. “If we lose the standard of hearing we are required to have, we lose our jobs,” he said.

“There has been no proof or figures to show that there have been more accidents since we started wearing

earmuffs 12 months ago. There was no dispute about them when they were issued, and there has not been any dispute anywhere else in New Zealand.” Mr Davidson said that it was up to the Railways Corporation to discuss the dispute with the N.U.R., since the corporation had issued the earmuffs.

“The Engineers' Union is not instructing anyone to wear the earmuffs. It is entirely up to the driver. We do not see the dispute as being between our union and the N.U.R. but between the N.U.R. and the corporation,” said Mr Davidson. The district traffic manager, Mr R. Campbell, said that the Railways Corporation chief industrial officer and the safety officer would be in Christchurch today on a routine visit, and would discuss the matter with both unions.