MAJORITY VERDICT ON WAGE RISES FOR RAILWAYMEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22891, 10 March 1949, Page 8

MAJORITY VERDICT ON WAGE RISES FOR RAILWAYMEN

(P. V.) WELLINGTON, Mar. 10. The majority decision of file IV.ihvays Industrial Tribunal on (lie wage increase for railwaymen was issued yesterday. It was signed by (lie chairman, Judge Stilwell and Mr. E. Casev. A memorandum of dissent was entered by Mr. E. A, Whitlow. The decision states that tiic tribunal, after hearing recent claims for wage increases, reached the conclusion that a general increase is justified of: in) £22 if paid on an annual basis. <b> 2id an hour if paid on an hourly basis. (c) f!s 4ci a week if paid on a weekly basis. excepting junior categories as otherwise provided. Engine drivers (special grade) are to receive an increase of 4d an hour, which includes the sum of ljd an hour awarded to remove the anomaly arising from the loss of margin when the higher cost of living allowance was included. Junior Wage Scales In the wage scales of the lower categories the following rates apply to juniors:—

First division—male: Cadets are to receive the following increases (a) £lO a year for cadets paid at rates for first and second sub-grades of Grade 7: (b) £ls a year for cadets paid at the rates for third, fourth, and fifth sub-grades of Grade 7.

Female: Shorthand typists, bookkeeping machinists, and office assistants arc to receive ia), £lO a year increase to the salaries specified for 16 years of age during the first and second years of service; (b>. £ls a year increase thereafter up to 21 years of age.

Second Divsiion.—Male: (a) excepting apprentices and assistants (publicity), and cleaners all members who are lin'd on schedule rates equivalent to those of labourers, etc., are to receive Id an hour increase at the ages of 16 and 17 and ltd an hour at j the ages of 18. 10 and 20; (b) junior waiters and junior general hands and garage assistants are to receive increase? as provided in (a) above at equivalent weekly rates; (c) part-time junior assistants under 16 years of age employed on an hour-to-hour basis are lo receive Id an hour increase (if meals are available), ljd an hour increase (if meals are not available); (d) temporary assistants under 16 years of age employed on a 40hour week basis are to receive an increase of 3s 4cl a week. 2. Apprentices and junior assistants (publicity), are to receive increases of Id an hour for the first and second year, ltd an hour for the third, fourth and fifth year and 2d an hour (where applicable), for the sixth year. 3. —Cleaners are to receive 2td an hour increase at 16 and,, 17 years of age. and 3d an hour increase at 18. 19 and 20 years of age. Second Division Workers Second Division.—Female, 1. junior waitresses and junior bookstall assistants arc to receive an increase of 5s a week2.—Temporary assistants (a) under 16, years oi age and employed on a 40hour week basis are to receive an increase of 3s 4d a week: (b) if engaged on a hour-to-hour basis are to receive increases of ltd an hour. The tribunal states it is also satisfied that the above rates should operate from July 1, 1940. The tribunal adds; “These intima- i turns are not to be regarded as effect- j ive or operative until incorporated in a formal order which will be drafted I forthwith.” In a memorandum. Mr. Whitlow said: "I am unable to concur with this | decision on the grounds that, in my j opinion, the increase granted is not commensurate and is not in proper j relationship with the evidence sub- j niitted in support of the wages j claimed. Further, no attempt has been made to implement what appears to me to be the necessary marginal adjustments in the ivage rates of skilled workers.”