Picton railway staff reach agreement

Press, 30 July 1985, Page 3

Picton railway staff reach agreement

Picton railway staff returned to work yesterday after reaching an agreement with the Railways Corporation over staff numbers and work rosters. A ban on overtime was implemented on Saturday by shunting staff, numbertakers and panel operators at the Picton yard. The ban was decided on at the annual meeting of the Blenheim branch of the National Union of Railwaymen. However, the area traffic manager of the corporation, Mr Gary Forster, based at Blenheim, called a meeting yesterday afternoon, and an agreement was reached.

Mr Forster said the dispute was over a misinterpretation of rosters which were agreed to in October last year. The union claimed that the sixth shift, the relief shift, should include a senior shunter. At present, this shift contained a shunter, and two traffic operators. Mr Forster said that the corporation was prepared to put a senior shunter on that shift. He said that it would take a few weeks to advertise and fill the position. In the meantime, the staff were prepared to act as senior shunters to make sure the position was maintained, he said.