RAILWAYMEN’S PAY

Grey River Argus, 19 February 1945, Page 4

RAILWAYMEN’S PAY

Attitude of Grey A.S.R.S. FAMILY ALLOWANCE QULSIION At a meeting of the Greymouth . branch of the A.S.R.S. held in the Lyceum Hall yesterday morning, the ' , findings of the Railways Tribunal on ' the wages question were discussed, members coming from as far away as Ikamatua. The chairman of the branch, Mr. W. Bell, presided. The following resolution was carried :—■ “That we await the full findings of the Tribunal before deciding what further action is necessary, and that the national secretary be" requested to address a meeting at. Greymouth after the Tribunal sittings conclude. Further that, we consider that whilst 31d per hour represents an increase of twelve per cent, it will be found that the family man on a 40-fiour who was prior to the rise receiving under 2s 6d per hour is actually financially, worse off now than before. As matters now stand his increase in wages will be off-set by a reduction in the family allowance. His wage has increased Is 5d weekly, and if a permanent employee his superannuation will cost sixpence extra weekly, making a total of Is lid weekly. In the light of these figures we ask the Government for an immediate assurance that members of the railway service will not be subjected to a cut in their family allowances because of the wage increase granted by tne Tribunal. If such an assurance is forthcoming it will dispell all doubts from the minds of the members, and only then will we be able to accept the decision as a genuine endeavour to raise the economic position of our lower paid members. We request our general executive to present this aspect of the situation to the Prime Minister at once and ask that it press for an immediate announcement of the Government’s policy. Figures quoted at the meeting indicate that a man with a family of three on the lower wage is actually reduced in income. For instance, a man with three children working a 40-hour week at the rate of 2 4i per hour received -£6 Is lOd, which included the family allowance. Under the new wage increase he will now only get £5 19s lOd. The new wage will now be £5 -6s Bd, which, together with the cost of living bonus, will bring it up to £5 16s Bd. From this is deducted 14s 7d wage tax, bringing the weekly wage down to £5 2s Id, whilst under the new scale of wages the family allowance is reduced from 30s to 18s 4d because of the increase in wages. Therefore the total sum he now receives is £5 19s lOd, an actual loss of two shillings per week.’’ A further resolution was passed: “That this branch contact Westport and Otira branches and arrange consultations between the three executives on the whole problem.’’ OTAHUHU ATTITUDE. AUCKLAND, February 17. Otahuhu branch of the Railway Tradesmen passed a motion “vigorously protesting against the inade- > quate wage increase granted to members of our Association. We feel that little consideration was given to extra expenses incurred in carrying out our duties in relation to those of unskilled workers. Th e finding of the Tribunal has retarded the efficiency of the trade inasmuch as that, notwithstanding an acute shortage of tradesmen which is being experienced at present, exclusive of war commitments, the future is endangered by the wage reward being insufficient to attract the right type of artisan. The internal economy, of New Zealand will be thus reduced in direct ratio as between the 3-jd an hour which was granted and the 6d an hour which was demanded.” Otahuhu A.S.R.S. unanimously agreed to accept the wage increase granted. It took strong exception to ' the fact that in most cases the

amounts granted did not bring wage costs up to the net weekly minimum asked for by the Auckland Trades Council.