CONCESSIONS TO WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 139, 9 December 1935, Page 8

CONCESSIONS TO WORKERS

, (To the Editor.)

Sir,—Concessions to the unemployed are announced by the new Cabinet. I would like to ask whether there is likely to be any immediate increase in salary to the semi-unemployed section of the teaching profession—the "rationed" teachers—some 85 per cent, of whom are, at the moment, being kept out of permanent positions by the rationing scheme itself. These "rationed" teachers, for the most part, are working in full-time teaching positions at a salary (even with the 7£ per cent, rise and the pre-election bonus granted by the last Government) of but a ■ little over half of the scale rates to which so many of them are entitled. It should be remembered, too, that during 1934 they were obliged to give their professional services in our schools for £60 per annum, less taxes and superannuation, with an increase to £72 towards the end of the year. Surely the case "for the rationed teacher merits immediate consideration. —I am, etc., INTERESTED. Another correspondent ("Mother of Two") wants to know if the Minister of Railways intends doing anything for the casuals employed at the goodssheds. "These men," the correspondent states, "have been on relief pay for the past three years; part of that time they were registered relief workers making up their grade wage on relict work. They are more than relief workers, as they have to go to work for a few hours every day and often three hours in the morning and again for a couple of hours in the afternoon, which means two tram fares (with no reduc-

lion as to relief workers). These men do not get paid for any holidays and during Christmas week may only get in a few hours, which is a bright outlook for the wives.'.'