THREE WEEKS' LEAVE

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 62, 11 September 1945, Page 8

THREE WEEKS' LEAVE

RAILWAYMEN'S CLAIM

A claim for the period of annual leave, exclusive of departmental holidays, to be'increased to three weeks for all employees was supported by the four service organisations before the Railways Industrial Tribunal yesterday, on the ground that such a period was the minimum necessary for recuperative purposes. In presenting the case, Mr. J. Berry, assistant general secretary of the A.S.R.S., said that decision on a similar claim at the 1944 sittings had been adjourned until after the cessation of hostilities because of man-power difficulties and financial considerations. "We feel justified," he said, "in interpreting this decision to mean that our case for an increase was substantiated, but that the granting of the application was not possible solely on account of the two factors mentioned."

It was clear that the effect of .the war upon New Zealand's man-power resources would shortly be removed completely, and, in fact, during the change-over period from a war to a peace economy there was likely to be some danger of a temporary surplus of labour in relation to the machine and material facilities available for production.

In regard to financial considerations Mr. Berry submitted that that aspect should, and could, be secondary to the health and well-being of railwaymen, and that while the railways were operated under the present system mainly as a developmental institution, the wages and conditions of the employees should not be governed by the state of the Department's finances but that adequate salaries and wages should be paid and fair and equitable conditions "ranted.

The present annual leave scale was stated to be as follows: —First Division: Employees with less than 10 years' continuous service, two weeks; with 10 years' continuous service and over, three weeks. Second Division: Full-time employees other than those working under award conditions, two weeks, irrespective of length of service.

ARREARS NOT OVERTAKEN.

! For the Department Mr. Reid said that although as much leave as practicable had been granted, it had not been possible to accomplish anything in the way of overtaking arrears of annual leave on the present basis. In fact, the position had deteriorated and the leave due to employees as at June 23 last was approximately 388,000 days in the aggregate. That did not take into account accrued leave due to employees in the Forces. There were 4766 railwaymen still in the Services, and practically all of them would be required to carry out necessary work with a minimum of overtime and provide for sick leave, current annual leave, and other requirements. In addition, to liquidate « the arrears of annual leave in twelve months would require a further 1655 employees. The claim was also opposed on the grounds that to grant it would cause a further deterioration in the financial position of the Department, that the scale claimed was in excess of the standard leave scale operating in the Public Service and the P. and T. Department, and. that it went beyond the general industrial practice. Decision, was reserved. :