RAILWAYMEN

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 136, 5 December 1918, Page 2

RAILWAYMEN

WAGES AND CONDITIONS STRAIGHT TALK TO MINISTERS. The -secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants has sent the following letter to the Prime Minister, the Minister for Finance, and the Minister for Railways :— "I notice that the matter of the locomotive mend wages and conditions is being brought prominently before your-; selves, and alao before the general public per medium of the press, and I, as ■representing 1 the Amalgamated Society of Railway^ Servants, wish to draw your attention to the following facts, viz. : That my society represents more than twice the number of men that the other combined railway organisations do, and it represents the lowest-paid men in the railway service, a very large number of whom have not yet received a definite eight-hour day—men who are not entitled to receive overtime rates, no matter how. long they may be employed in any one day. If ifc is difficult for the higher-paid men, who have the above conditions, to live, how much more difficult is it for the men I have referred to to do so ?

"I npw wish to draw your attention to my letter, forwarded to the ActingPrime Minister arid Minister for Railways, dated 29th August, copy of which is enclosed, and to advise you that if the schedules of the Classification Act are to be amended this session,, my society most certainly wishes to be consulted', and desires to call evidence in support of their claims. We also desire to do this in an amicable and reasonable way, but any attempt to deal with one small section *of the service, to the exclusion of my society, can only be regarded as a hostile action, as far as we are concerned, and show"~ that, as I have previously stated, our loyalty and patriotism is being taken advantage of. "Wo sincerely trust that' your Government will not attempt to interfere with the Classification Act unless we are also given the opportunity that I have askod for. I may say that we are ready and prepared to discuss the matter, and at as early a date as possible, but, we do not desire to take any advantage of the present situation to push this matter, but most certainly, when the ' war is definitely concluded, my organisation will demand arid expect to receive at the hands of the Government liberal and much-improved conditions as compared with'those they now enjoy."

The following is the copy above referred to :— "I.am instructed by my executive to draw your attention to the action of the United States Government in' connectidn with railway hours and condi-. tions in that part of the world, and to .especially dvaw your attention to the increased wages, the niethod of computing time, and, the hbubs to be, worked! by the men referred to.' "I am also directed to advise your-; self and the Govei'iiment that', whilst my society "desires to assist the Gbv-' ernment in every possible way to bring the war to a successful issue, it will, at the conclusion of the war, endeavour amicably, by arrangement between the Government, the Railway Department/ and ourselves, to obtain a definite increase of wages, of at least 2s per day advance on pre-war rates, and also a definite eight-hour day —all time in ex-, cess' of that to be paid for, .afc overtime:, rates, the amount of which to be '»'■ matter for discussion between the parties "concerned. I have stated, on behalf of the Executive Councilj - that it will endeavour to bring this about by amicable and reasonable arrangement with those in authority, but, at the same time, most respectfully desire to impress upon you that every means at our disposal will be/ used for this purpose, because we feel that our loyalty and patriotism I is being taken advantage of, as indi-i | cated by; the railway returns, on. a re- ! duced staff, and the Government's action in conscripting the labour of men entitled to "retire on superannuation. "We are communicating this to you at the jpresent time, in order that the Government and yourself may have ample time to consider the matter, so that there shall be no excuse, when the •demand is made, that sufficient notice has not been given to enable the Government to fully consider the mutter."