PUBLIC SERVICE CLAIM TO FURTHER RISE IN PAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22952, 21 May 1949, Page 3

PUBLIC SERVICE CLAIM TO FURTHER RISE IN PAY

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 21. “The decision of the Government Service Tribunal to give to public servants under commission control an increase of £22 a year or less, according to salary class, on and from July 1, 1948, is identical with the decisions given recently by the Post and Telegraph and Railways Tribunals,” said thee president of the Public-Service Association,-Mr. J. P. Lewin, last night. . “The Public Service Association did not apply to the tribunal for all it considered was due to public servants. It made a purely pro-forma application to the tribunal for the restoration of uniformity between salaries in the public service and those in the Railways and Post and Telegraph Departments. No evidence was called for or submitted by our association. Problem Not Solved

“This decision does not solve the salaries’ problems of public servants. As at October 1, 1947 the rates of pay of skilled workers in the State services were £35 a year behind those operating for similar occupations in outside industry. The Margins and Anomalies Committee set up by the Government after an exhaustive examination of evidence extending over several months recommended that this increase was needed as from October 1, 1947, to restore the salaries of skilled workers in the State services to parity with the ruling rates in industry. “At the stage where the Government refused to apply the recommendations of this responsible committee the Post and Telegraph Association withdraw from co-operation with other State service organisations and took the case before its tribunal. The result of this unilateral action was a decision which confused the 1947 salary needs with the position existing in 1949. Total Rise of £7O Needed “The further increase of £35 granted recently by the Arbitration Court to workers in industry means that a total increase of £7O a year is needed to bring the salaries of State servants up to the level ruling in industry. “The Post and Telegraph Association, by its single-handed action, prejudiced this total claim of £7O to obtain more easily the £22 granted by the tribunal and in so doing prejudiced the wage position of all State servants. “However, the Public Service Association has not abandoned its case for the balance of £35 recommended by (he Margins and Anomalies Committee, or for the equivalent of a £35 general wage increase and will continue to take whatever action is appropriate.”