REDUCED RAILWAY HANDS

Evening Star, Issue 17085, 2 July 1919, Page 2

REDUCED RAILWAY HANDS

NOT ONLY CASUALS AFFECTED. MAKING ROOM FOR RETURNED MEN. THE CASE FOR THE , DEPARTMENT. [Special to the ‘ Stab..’] CHRISTCHURCH, July 1. Tho action of the Railway Department in dispensing with the services ot a number of casual men employed in the locomotive branch of the Railway Service is causing some resentment among tiro engineers, firemen, and cleaners. The position with regard to a number of these nnen is that they are described as “ permanent casuals ” —that is to say, they arc, to all intents and purposes, permanent employees of the department, receiving all the benefits and privileges enjoyed by the psnnanent staff, but not being eligible for superannuation, owing to their having joined the service when over t-lro ago limit (34) fixed by tho department. It is stated tint some 20 men have received notice that their services will not bo required after Friday. As a number of these have large fanii.lioc to support, it is felt that an injustice is being inflicted on them. In response to inquiries made by a reporter .to-day, it was started, on behalf of the department, that ail casual employees knew the conditions of their appointment to the service—that they wore only employed' from week to week for such. period as work was available for them. It was also stated that, as far as tho locomotive branch was concerned, none of tho casual employees affected by the notice of dismissal had more than 12 months’ service to- his credit. Some of them had considerably less. Another point stressed was that the department 'owed r. duty to the returned soldiers who had left its employ to go to the front. Inst ructions -had been given that these men were to be replaced, and the men who were being dismissed were merely making way for Lire return of permanent members of tb-c staff who had been given leave of absence while on military service. It was further staled that it had been the doparUneut’s policy for some, timo past to eliminate gradually the casual employee. Now that, the number of returning railwaymeu is more -than su-fli-oi-errt to supply tiro needs of th-o, iscrvico. it would only be a mutter of another month or two and the whole of the casual staff would be dispensed with. Another factor which had tendej to accelerate fludepartment's policy of eliminating casual labor was the coal shortage. With -a reduced train service it was obvious that less men would be required. It is understood that a clcaranco is being made in la 11 the railway departments, tlioagh details wore not obtainable as to t-he total •number of men affected.