RAILWAYS TRIBUNAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 November 1944, Page 2

RAILWAYS TRIBUNAL

JURISDICTION ISSUE.

WELLINGTON, November 1. The jurisdiction of the Railways Industrial Tribunal to hear the Railway Officers’ Institute claims as presented was the subject of the following statement by the chairman (Mr. W. F. Stilwell) at to-day’s sitting of the tribunal: “The tribunal is of the opinion that it is very desirable that the extent to which the parties are in conflict on the question of jurisdiction should be clearly indicated before the tribunal will be in a position to decide the course to be taken as to the hearing of the claims on their merits. Accordingly, it is of the opinion that with the exception of any argument in reply on the question of stabilisation which it might be desired in the meantime to place before it, the hearing on the merits of all claims should be adjourned sine die, pending a reply to the respondent’s (the general manager’s) arguments in bar of junsdic!*°The heariinlg was adjourned sine die to enable the institute to consider its reply to the department on the jurisdiction point. E.F.C.A. CLAIMS. WELLINGTON, November 1. That all members of the EngineDrivers, Cleaners, and Firemen’s Association should receive three weeks annual holiday, in addition to statutory holidays, and that they should receive long-service leave, were claims made on behalf of the association to the Railways Industrial Tribunal to-day. The scale of longservice leave asked for was as follows: — , . After 10 years’ service, one week, after 20 years’, two weeks; after 25 years’, three weeks; after 30 years, jour weeks; after 35 years’, six weeks; after 40 years’, 12 weeks. At present lull-time employees in the second division, which includes members oi the association, receive one week on completion of one year of service, and two weeks on completion of each subsequent year. The department, in its response to the annual leave claim, suggested conditions whereby two weeks annual leave would be granted members oi the organisation, in line with the proposal made with respect to claims lor three weeks’ annual leave lodged by the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and the Railway Tradesmen’s Association. The department s reply to the claim lor long-service leave had not been heard when the tribunal adjourned.