INCREASE IN PAY FOR P. AND T. EMPLOYEES FROM LAST JULY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22891, 10 March 1949, Page 4

INCREASE IN PAY FOR P. AND T. EMPLOYEES FROM LAST JULY

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 10. By a majority of two to one, the Post and Telegraph Staft Tribunal, consisting of Judge Stilwell, chairman, Mr. J. J. Knight, departmental representative, and Mr. G. A. Wilkes, representing the Post and Telegraph employees, decided that a general wage increase is justified in the department and that, with the exceptions mentioned in paragraph 2, all classified first and second division employees and all temporary employees should receive increases as follows :

(a) £22 if paid on an annual* basis.

(b) 2Jd an hour if paid on an

hourly basis. (c) 8s 4d a week if paid on a weekly basis. Exceptions referred to in paragraph 1 are:—

(a) £lO per annum increase to those whose salaries do not exceed £lB5 per annum.

(b) £ls per annum increase to those whose salaries exceed £lB5 per annum but do not exceed £275 per annum-

(«) Temporary employees receiving hourly or weekly rates of pay which, when computed on an annual basis, fall within the salary ranges set out in A and B to receive increase of either Id or lid an hour or 3s 4d or 5s a week as the case might be.

(d) Temporary lemale* office cleaners to receive a pro rata weekly increase based on a rate of 2kl pej hour in accordance with the number of hours worked of a full working week of 40 hours.

The increased rates prescribed will, in all cases, operate from July 1, 1948, but will not be regarded as effective until incorporated in the usual departmental circular dealing with the subject. In a dissenting finding, Mr. G. A. Wilkes disagrees with the above conclusions on the grounds that the evidence brought before the tribunal justified a higher rate of increase with retrospective effect to October 1. 1947.