UNREST

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 87, 11 April 1924, Page 10

UNREST

IN P. AND T. SERVICE

MEETING OF WELLINGTON

BRANCH

THE CLASSIFICATION QUESTION,

About 130 members of the Wellington • branch of the' Post .and Telegraph Ufficers Association attended an emergency meeting at the Oddfellows' Hall last .evening. Mr. T. p. Falconer, chairman of the branch, presided. The chairman read the following circular telegram sent out to all branches by the general secretary (Mr. H. E. Combs): "Executive ntet PostmasterGeneral, but he could not supply, information re classification, as matter now before • Cabinet. He promised to submit it Friday or Saturday; and, further, that representations could be made .with view securing improvement .should Government's proposals prove unsatisfactory, Executive remain in' session." The chairman briefly ; statedJbhe object of the meeting. . , .-■ c- ' - Mr. C. E. Collins, president of the New Zealand P. and T. Association, said the association based its claims on these facts: As they were all awai'e, the service was reciassified in 1919. The cost of living rose until, twelve months later, it reached 63 per cent, above the 1914 figures. To, cope -with that : increased cost of living, representations were made, and finally the Government granted the service a; maximum bonus of £50. At that time members considered- .that £50 was inadequate to meet the increased cost of living. The increased cost of living was 63 per cent., whereas the £50 bonus represented only 53 per cent, over the basic wage of 1914, as ,recognised by the Uniformity Committee: The conference had laid it down that no reclassification could! be satisfactory which did not_ bring back the purchasing power of their salaries' to the ISM point. TheN^cecutive now desired to get something definite. They did not wish to be put off with evasive answers any longer.'The speaker then referred to the railway 7 men's dispute—the demand of the men for increased pay, and the, offer of the Department that if increased pay were given the hours-should be increased from 44. to 48. He felt sure the railwaymen had the support of all other, branches, of the. Public Service, especially in resisting an increase of hours of work. After the classification; was made public,' the executive would desire to know whether members . considered it satisfactory 'or not; and if it .was not considered satisfactory, *hen members should indicate to. the executive what they considered should be the next step to'be .taken.' He contended that they were justified in asking for a return pi' their salaries to the 1914 standard.' (Applause.)- : • ,■. 'A SERIOUS POSITION, Mr. J. M.; Mackay, vice-president of the association, said that- members of the executive had) visited other branches during the. last-few weeks,, and had ascertained the views of members. It seemed clear that the general body of the ,service, was dissatisfied with the wages paicj at the present time; and that they were out to get' their demands at any cost. The 'executive had; taken' every constitutional means to achieve what they considered to be right and just, and they would continue on such lines to the la^t.] r ßut if it was. found €hat they could gei ho further, it'would then devolve on members to say what steps the executive should take. Therposition wasa serious one.' Members of the'Post^and Telegraph Service had now come to the position when they, were determined to get.something better. .\ He-.had- no doubt jthat whatever conclusion was come" to, members^ would stand .shoulder to shoulder,' as they had done hitherto. Mr. D. A. Herbert, member "of the executive, said there was no 'doubt that the service had grievances in regard to their emoluments; and the signs in the P. and T.. branch! were that' there was not that contentment whichshould, exist. It was: in the general public interest that there should bean efficient and contented Public Service: He pointed out that I the Post and, Telegraph , Service numbered ,9158 (including temporary hands), and the, membership, of the. association ' was 6380, which -left about, 2700 employees,. who. were not. members of the association. Efforts sKould be 1 made.'to get them all intothe organisation. ' The executive wanted .to be sure that the • course1; they took was the right -one, and that they had , all '-.-the members with them, when they'-moved. ihe executive would do their best to achieve the ends they Lad in view. ' , CONTINGENT BALLOT-PAPER, ,t-^- Pl Tl ?erry» secretary of 'the Wellington section, drew- attention to the fact that'included'in the non-members, were temporary men. and exctiange, boys. So far as Wellington was. concerned, practically every mem per of the service vas a member of the association. Within the next few days there was .the possibility of a' postal ballot, being taken as to what course the executive should take in the event of a breakdown of the' ne-' gotiations. The question to be-decided was what alternatives'should, be placed' on the ballot-papers. Every avenue, however, should be explored before extreme steps were taken. A' member asked what would be the position if it turned but'that increase's 9? pay.-.were ..given in certain ..sections, and were refused* to the. majority? 'What ground had the president for suggesting that there would .be..no increases given' in. the classification? . ,-•■ V ... „;•', Mr. C. E. \Collins replied that certain' remarks of the. Secretary of the Depart ment led him"to '> think that: there was not much to expect in the way- of in creases. . ' . ! •A member pointed,out that at present there was nothing tangible to go upon. Another member remarked that there were rumours 'that there would 'be no trains'running at Easter., The question arose: ■ Should they support the railwayman ?■;■•' . ■ ■. ' ■ : Mr. P. T. Berry remarked.that it was probable the railwaymen would be satisfied that the ' Post /and. Telegraph men remain at work and. support;' them financially... . . : ' ■■'■ ■ It was agreed that the section recommend that the wording of the' ballotpapers be as , follows :—" (1) Are- you in favour of accepting the new lists? 2. If not, are you in favour of a strike ? 3. H the executive of the A.S.R.S. so desire, shall-we'remain-at Svork and sup-' port them financially ?" ; f: ■ '' ■Mr. E. C. Collins assured members that the executive of the P. and T. Association was in close touch with the executive of the.A.S.R.S. '" ' ' In reply' to a question', the secretary: ?aid that legally they could nipt pay any-' thmg out of the'funds' of the P. and T. Association to the A.S.R.S. It would have to be a ( voluntary levy. ■■ ■' .' . In response to the general request-, Mr. J. H. Mackenzie, ' e.x-president of the association, addressed, the meeting. He urged that success at a previous crisis had been attained by the exercise, of moral fqrec anil the justice of their case, j lhcy presented their claims to -members of Parliament in a body, with a satisfactory result. '< He spoke oE the delay"in! classification ; urged them ■ 'to ■ stand together in a just ciu£c ; and was sure if they did that, and could point to the ■Cftcf that'they had acted constitutionally, they would win ouU