POST AND TELEGRAPH SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 261, 2 August 1939, Page 6

POST AND TELEGRAPH SERVICE

Two Committees To Be Set Up INQUIRY INTO OFFICERS’ GRIEVANCES Dominion Special Service AUCKLAND, August I. After prolonged representations to the department and the PostmasterGeneral by service organizations and individuals, it has been decided to set up two committees to inquire into and report upon the grievances of employees in the Post and Telegraph service, according to information received in Auckland. Two committees will be appointed, one to deal with matters concerning the engineering section of the service, including all types of tradesmen, and the other to handle questions relating to the non-engineering side. The committees will both be presided over by Mr It. E. Price, conciliation commissioner,' Auckland. The committees are expected to begin their inquiries within the next week. They will consist in each case of three departmental representatives and three service representatives, in addition to the chairman. Two of the service delegates on each committee will be appointed by the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association. Representations made over a. considerable period by the association have resulted in considerable progress recently, but the issue is stated to have been complicated by independent requests from single employees or groups of employees. The two committees will have a wide order of reference, including a considerable number of specific grievances advanced on behalf of the service. The majority of these relate to wage rates for workers at various grades and methods of promotion from different sub-divisions and classes. Overtime payments will also come up for consideration, and the committees will be empowered to inquire into any other matters considered expedient by the Postmaster-General. Among chief matters to be raised is the rate of salaries paid to certain junior officers, whose promotions were delayed through the depression. It is considered in the service that an inquiry will reveal some remarkable facts about the rates paid to some classes of young officers up to the age of about 28, as compared with the scales ruling in private business. Acting as advocates before the com.mittees, officials of the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association will call evidence, where necessary, in support of their organization’s case.