P. AND T. OFFICERS’ DEMANDS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 181, 28 April 1924, Page 8

P. AND T. OFFICERS’ DEMANDS

cabinet Defers consideration till RAILWAY STRIKE OVER ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE INVOLVED “WHOLE MATTER REFERRED TO THE SERVICE” - The Postmaster-General has macle his considered reply to the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association’s objections to the new salary schedules. In so doing he states that the association's proposals would involve an additional ex- - penditure of £454,227 a year. He also says that Cabinet has decided not to consider the association’s requests further until the railway strike has been dealt with. The. association has issued a reply to the Minister in which it states •'-that it has now no other recourse but to refer the whole matter to the service.

A deputation from the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association, consisting of Messrs. C. E. Collins (president), H. E. Combs (secretary), and J. H. Mackenzie, waited on the PostmasterGeneral (Hon. J. G. Coates) during the week-end to receive his statement regarding their counter-proposals to the new salary schedules. There were present on behalf of the Department Messrs. G. McNamara (Acting-Secre-tary of the P. and T. Department) and Mr. J. Robertson (First Assistant Secretary). The Postmaster-General said that he bad been in close consultation with his officers and had thoroughly analysed tho requests of the association, with the result that he was prepared to make a statement, as follows: — “It has been stated on behalf of the association that the schedules prepared by that organisation have been drawn up so as to provide for a 60 per cent, increase over the salaries paid in 1914. “In 1914, message-boys commenced at £3l per annum, and after a year’s service were paid £4O per annum. The average salary paid was, therefore, approximately £36 per annum. The Government considered that the present salary of £57 per annum, or an increase of 58 per cent, over 1914 was adequate, and, therefore, did not propose any higher payment. The association, on the other hand, claims a commencing salary of £6o per annum equalling 110 per cent, over 1914, and a salary of £7O per annum after one year’s service. The latter amount is 75 per cent, above tie maximum paid ten years ago. “Exchange attendants commenced at a salary of £4O per annum in 1914, and in the "fifth year of their service were paid £BO per annum. In the sihedules recently drawn up and forwarded to the association for comment it was proposed that an exchange attei dant should receive a commencing salary of £B3 per annum, equal to 107 per cent, above 1914, and that in the fifth year such an officer should be paid £135 per annum, or 68 per cent, above the salary paid-ten years ago to an attendant in her fifth year of service. The ussocia tion, however, claim a general increase of ICO per cent, on the salaries paid to exchange attendants in 1914 for the first five years of service. “Junior male officers of the general division were paid a commencing salary of £5O per annum in 1914. In the sixth year of their service they received £lOO per annum, while they were paid £l2O per annum in their eighth year of service. Provision was made in the Government’s recent proposals for these officers to commence at £7O per annum, to receive £l4B in their sixth year of service, and £194 in the eighth year, which equal# an increase of 40 per cent., 48 per cent.; and 61 per cent, respectively over the salaries paid ten years ago. . The association claim a commencing salary of £BO per annum, representing an increase of 60 per cent, oyer 1914; a payment of £2OO in the sixth year of tervice, which is exactly 100 per cent, more than was paid ten years ago; while it is claimed that £275 should be paid in the eighth year of service, which means an increase of 129 per cent, over the corresponding salary paid in 1914. •• “Ten years ago the minimum salary for the clerical division was £5O. In his seventh year of service, an officer was paid £135, while £l5O was paid for the eighth year. The proposals placed before the association by the Government provided for a commencing salary of £BO, which means a 60 per cent, increase over 1914; for a payment of £2lO in, the seventh year, representing an increase of 55 per cent, over 1914; while an officer in his eighth year was to be paid £230, or 53 per cent, more than was paid to such an officer ten years ago. The proposals made by the association, however, provide for a commencing salary of £B5 per annum, which is 70 per cent, higher than the minimum salarv in 1914. The claim is also made that an officer should receive £290 in his seventh year of service, and £340 in the eighth, which represents increases of 114 and 126 per cent, respectively when compared with the payments made ten years ago. What Proposals Involve. “The adoption of the association’s proposals would mean that in the clerical, division 157 unmarried officers of approximately 22 years of age receiving a salary of £205 por annum, would receive an increase of £135 per annum ; 233 officers of approximately 23 years of age—tie large majority of whom are unmarried and receiving £225 per annum —would be entitled to an additional £ll5 per annum ; while 189 unmarried officers receiving £l9O per annum and approximately 21 years of age. would have their salaries increased by £1(X) per annum. The proposals also provide for 93 general division unmarried officers of approximately 22 years of age now receiving £l4B per annum, having their salaries increased 'oy £127 per annum; and for 29 unmarried officers, approximately 21 years of age, and receiving £135 per annum, to receive an additional £lO5 per annum. “It was stated recently on behalf of tlie association that no man of adult age giving efficient service should receive less than £4 10s. par week. If that were agreed to, and if ll.e schedules pro|x>sed bv the association were adopted, tho additional expenditure to be met bv the Post and Telegraph Department for I he current financial year would be £454.227. As the amount paid in salaries and wages for the last, financial year was £1.863,424, it will be seen that the total for this year would he £2.317.6-51. A rough estimate shows that, if the association’s proposals were applied to the Departments under the control of the Public Service Commissioner, an additional expenditure fo- the current financial year of £350.000, approximately, would be involved. Too Contented a Rank and File. "Reference has, been made by officers of the association to the large number of officers who are at the maximum salary of the rank and file of the clerical division (£95). There are

1306 officers at that salary at present Before an officer is eligible for promotion to the class above the rank and file of the clerical (Xsion, he must pass the controlling officers’ examination. Out of 1468 officers eligible to sit for that examination, only 283 have passed. This means that 81 per cent, of those officers are not prepared to sacrifice a little of their private time in order to qualify for promotion and higher salaries. Apparently they prefer to remain rank and file officers tnrougnout their official lives. It is considered that such men would not, earn more than £295 in private life, and that amount is considered an adequate payment for the services they render to the Department. , Lost Opportunities. “It has been stated by the association that outside the Service a youth serves five years as an apprentice, a year or two as an improver, and is then entitled to the award rate of pay. While that might be the case of those who are learning trades, the large majority of junior clerks in outside employment progress by annual increases which mav or may not be quite so regular as those paid, in the Department. Tn order that the position of the juniors might be fully understood, it is necessary to explain that the majority of officers of the Post and Telegraph Department, join as messageboys. Usually the brightest noys qualify for promotion to the clerical division within two or three years of coming into the Service. The less ambitious boys are as a rule promoted to positions of postmen, messengers, etc., within a similar period. In years gone by, only about 10 per cent, of boys were content to remain in the general division. The balance qualifed for promotion to the clerical division. “As a result of the maximum salary of the rank and file of the general division having been increased, there is a growing disinclination on the part of officers to qualify for promotion to the clerical division ; and in proof of this it might be stated that although owing to a surplus of staff there were no promotions from the general to the clerical division for approximately three years there are now only 13 per cent, of officers of the general division eligible for promotion to the clerical division, the remainder are losing their opportunities of receiving higher salaries. Apparently they are satisfied to remain in the general division. Jt is considered that the proposed maximum salary of £240, ■which Is equal to £4 12s. a week, is adequate remuneration for a man who is not prepared to qualify for a higher salary. Prospects of Advancement. “In the foregoing remarks, reference is made tc officers of the general division employed outside the engineering branch. Those employed inside that branch might perhaps be compared with tradesmen and others employed by the various firms. While in some instances the payment of a junior mechanic employed outside the deprrtment might be a little ahead of that made to one inside the department, the prospects of advancement for smart young men are undoubtedly better than is the case of those employee! by outside firms. Recently a number of vacant positions above the rank and file were advertised, and although every adult qualified officer and temporary employee were promoted, there are still over forty vacancies which will have to remain unfilled until additional men qualify for promotion. It might be added that a large number of junior officers received substantial increases on promotion. Approximately a dozen officers received increases of over £lOO. It can hardly be said, therefore, that there are not excellent prospects of advancement for those who are prepared to qualify. “It has been stated by the association that an officer might remain at a salary of £295 for ten vears. If the officer fails to qualify for promotion, or is considered by ’ the Promotion Board (on which the officers have representation) as unsuitable for advancement, he might remain at the maximum salary for even a longer period than ten years. It is not usual, however, for a good officer to remain for that term. Out of over 100 officers recently promoted only six had completed ton years at a salary of £295. Had those officers reached a higher standard of efficiency they would have been promoted at a much earlier date. The majority of those recently promoted have been five years at the maximum salary, while a number have served a shorter period. The Cost of Living Question. “It is observed that in 1920, when the Government Statistician figures showed the combined food groups as being G2 por cent, above 1914, the association accepted £320 and £258 as the maximum of the rank and file of the clerical and general divisions respectively. Now, when the Statistician’s figures show the food groups at 49.63 per cent, above 1914, the association claims a maximum of £340 for the rank and file of the clerical division and £275 for the rank and file of the general division. “The association stated that the staffs of the banks received a bonus. The information available shows that officers in receipt of a salary cf £270 or under are not paid a bonus. Whatever may have been said by a former permanent head that in framing the schedules of 1919 the Department did not take into consideration the cost of living, tho fact remains that an endeavour was mode at that time to bring the salaries of officers irto lino with those paid in outside employment. It is surely not suggested that private firms in 1919 were paying similar salaries to those paid in 1914. Better Off in the Service Than Outside. “The schedules which the association were recently given an opportunity of commenting on, were drawn up to provide for the payment of salaries which compared favourablv with those received by clerks and others in outside employment. In spite of a hat might

be said by the association to the contrary, the" salaries proposed by Government are not less generous than those paid to men whose work can be reasonably compared with work done by officers of the Department. Financial Effect if Requests Granted. “As shown above, the total salaries and wages paid for the year ended March 31 last was £1,863,424. If the association’s proposals were agreed to, the expenditure on salaries and wages during the current financial year would be £2,317,651, an increase of £454, 227. As the permanent officers and temporary employees number 9137, it will be seen , that an average increase of £49 14s. per man has been claimed by the association.” CABINET’S DECISION WILL DEAL WITH RAILWAY STRIKE FIRST In addition to the prepared statement. Mr. Coates said that the average increase of the Government proposals was 59 per cent, over the 1914 lates. The proposals of tho P. and T. officers amounted to a 90 per cent, increase over 1914. As he had promised before the statement he had just read had been drafted up,'he had placed the whole question before Cabinet, and had taken Cabinet’s ruling as to what it was prepared to do in the direction of considering further negotiations. Cabinet had considered the requests placed bv him before it on behalf of the P. and T. Officers’ Association, and had asked him to convey to the association the view that it was not prepared to further consider tho requests until the present difficulties in connection with the railwaymen were out of the way That was what Cabinet had conveyed to him, and he had conveyed it to them. Was there any point they wished to raise that had not been touched upon In reply to Mr. Collins, tho Post-master-General said he would be quite prepared to give them time to consider his statement, and would- be quite ready to go into the matters again. Mr. Combs: I am not quite clear on the point that Cabinet is not prenared to consider any proposals from ourselves until the railway dispute is settled. Does that Mean that our claim for an increase of salary is wrapped up in the railwaymen’s effort to gain an increase ? Mr. Coates: I would not like to nay that. I think it means—“Wo have one thing on hand, and until we *,et rid of that we will not consider anything else.’* Mr. Combs: Cabinet will not consider our trouble until the railway trouble is over. Does not that mean that our trouble is wrapped up in the railway trouble? That’s the way it appears to me. Mr. Coates: That is the decision of Cabinet. They say they cannot give serious consideration to your claims until the railwaymen’s claims are out of the way. Mr. Combs: In effect, negotiations with ourselves are suspended? It seems to me that we are told to go about oiir business until the railway dispute is over. Mr. Coates: You may make any deduction you like. I have told you what the position is. I am not telling yon to go about your business. Mr. Combs: Cabinet'is, though. Mr.‘ Coates: I have conveyed Cabinet’s decision. The Postmaster-General also said that he was quite prepared to continue discussions personally in the meantime. NO OTHER RECOURSE WHOLE MATTER TO BE REFERRED TO SERVICE DECISION OF P. & T. OFFICERS On receipt of the Minister’s statement. the executive of the P. and T. Officers’ Association met, and after reviewing the various clauses made the following announcement: — “Jt is to be very much regretted that the Postmaster-General did not supply a copy of his considered statement (delivered late this afternoon) some hours previously to the representatives of the association, so as to enable them to prepare an equally carefully considered reply. This could readily have been done, for the Postmaster-General’s statement was obviously prepared on Saturday. The statement itself indicates that, for in the copy supplied to the association the type-written words •this morning’ have been struck out, and the word ‘Saturday’ pencilled in. . . . Considerable significance is also attached to the alteration of the hour, of the interview from 2.30 pan. to 4.30 pan. Doubtless the Postmaster-Gener-al’s considered statement has been transmitted (through the Press Association) to all morning newspapers. It was obviously impossible for the representatives of the association to prepare a considered reply for transmission as the interview finished at 5.15 pan., and the Telegraph Office closed at 5.30 pan. “Tho association has, all through its negotiations, adhered to the principle that the public is entitled to full information on all that transpires, so that it may judge between the two seta of views. The Basic Principle. “The fact which stands out most clearly from the Postmaster-General’s statement is his careful avoidance of any reference to the basic principle on which the association’s requests have been put forward, namely, the basic wage of 1914, plus the known increase in the cost of living since that year. This principle was recognised and admitted by himself (as a member of the Government) in. 1920, when tho last upward increase in the wages ai d salaries of the service took place. To-day it suits his purpose to ignore this, vital principle, although at our last interview it was stressed again and again as tho basis of the association’s representations. “It is true that ho refers to the request of the association for u basic wage of £4 10s. per week for adult males rendering efficient service, hut instead of replying that this is too much, too little, or just enough, hu proceeds to refer to the possibility of certain unmarried men in the service getting substantial increases if this basic wago were adopted. He omits any reference to the married men with dependents whom the existing scffodule foice to eke out an existence on less than this amount. “He also makes lengthy reference to the fact that if thq people employed by the Department like to qualify by examination they render themselves eligible for higher paid positions, and deplores the fact that 81 per cent, of tho clerical division oilicers are not prepared to sacrifice a little of their private time to qualify, carefully omitting from his calculations the number who have tried tinio and again to pass the examination and have failed. However, there is one very important factor that should not be overlooked. Promotion in tho post and telegraph service spells “transfer” nine times out ot ten. In these days of high rents and housing shortage no officer views with equanimity tho possibility of transfer, ami manv an officer, rather than break up an established home and disturb education and prospects of his children, refrains from applying for promotion. In any case, the Depart-

ment has over 250 qualified officers on its waiting list. Most of them have been on that list Jor years, and are likely to continue to wait as there are not enough positions to go round. But apart from this, the association holds that a man should be paid on the value of the work ho is called upon to perform. If he qualifies and seeks promotion then additional remuneration is due to him as soon as he is given more responsible duties. Today the Department pays ths efficient telegraphist £295 per annum. In 1914 it paid him £230. The spending power of £295 to-dav is the equivalent of £lB5 in 1914 —the difference representing a distinct falling away in the standard of remuneration as applied to the class of work performed. The telegraphist is a highlv skilled worker. If be is detected in three mistakes in three months he is reprimanded, although in that period he may have transmitted half a million words. On the basis of skill for skill such a man is paid less than quite a number of groups of skilled tradesmen on the industrial field—linotype operators for one example. Desire to Speed Up Increment. “The Postmaster-General’s reference to other gloups of employees in tho service is of a piece with his reference to tho clerical division and cannot be referred to in detail to-night for some attention must bo given to Hie desire of the servioa to have the increment climb from minimum to maximum speeded up. Tn 1918 this was the policy of the Department itself, for it submitted to the, association at that time proposals to reduce the then period from fourteen years to eight, ft is very sranse, therefore, to find it to-day strenuously defending a schedule which covers a period of eleven vears. The principle the association seeks to have adopted—a five-year training period plus two years as an “improving” stage, and thereafter the full value of the skill employed, and the lespnnsibilifies carried—is not unreiu sonnhle and iu> more assertion of the prospective cost disposes of the fairness of Ibe request. “D is surprising, too. to fix 1 that the Postma=ter-General is misinformed as regards the practice of certain banks to pnv a bonus to lheir staffs. A recent issue of ‘Tl>e Banker’ shows that both the Brink of New Zealand and the National Bank have paid a bonus ranging from 10 per cent, io 15 per rout., according to status and length of service. “No Other Recourse." “Despite the Postmaster-General’s previous assurance that our case is not hound un in the railway employees dispute. his statement to-dav clearly indicates that this is the case, and that our claims will receive no Cabinet consideration until that dispute has been settled. We are prepared to proceed, with the negotiations on the merits of our case, but in view of this announcement have no recourse but to refer the whole matter to the service,”