N.Z. Bank Officials Suffer Fear Complex in Award Claims

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1949, Page 7

N.Z. Bank Officials Suffer Fear Complex in Award Claims

WELLINGTON, Feb. 17.

Bank officers, who stated in their submissions that they were among the last of the organised workers to seek an industrial awuru, presentee their claims before Mr justice Tynciail in the Arbitiation court to-day. * A salary scale reaching 11620 in the eighteenrn year 01 service is sougnt tor male employees and one reaching t 36() in the twelfth year for women. Mr C. A. R. Brunt, appearing tor the applicant union (New Zealand flank Officials), said tne memoersmp ox 3272, at present on a voluntary basis, comprised all ranks from the i.lost senior executives to recentiyappointea juniors. in Scotland, he said, the salary scales for bank employees reached ii62o, in South Africa £640 and in Ireland £l4B. In Australia the Commonwealth Bank scale went to £650 “and we understand the New Zealand Reserve Bank scale reaches an even higher figure.” Mr Brunt said that it' the proposed salary scale were approved it would represent merely a 50 per cent, increase since 1939, or less than half ot what tne Government statistician s figures showed as having applied to the community as a whole. COSTLY MISTAKES

Mr Brunt, after referring to rush periods and stress of work of bank employees, said: "Worry which seems to oe inseparable from a banking career is largely due to the tact that the officers reanse that mistakes may result in very serious financial loss to themselves. There have been cases where our members, in addition to having been reduced in status, haye been crippled financially for years in repaying such losses.” Another disadadvantage of bank work was that it was virtually impossible for the officer to change his employer. All banks he said, were individually in close corporation as far as staffs were concerned. Mr Brunt said the union was asking that any increases granted be retrospective to April 1 of last year. Extra pay above the salary scale was sought for accountants and branch managers.

FEAR OF GIVING EVIDENCE Mr Brunt, concluding his submissions, said he did not intend to call evidence as he said there was a fear complex in the bank services which made every officer wary of coming forward. . His Honour: Are you not aware of the provisions regarding victimisation? They are pretty drastic and designed to protect the workers. Mr Brunt: Even so, our officers feel victimisation would be .enforced. Mr Brunt added that it. could be done in one way or another, inducing transfers. The officers had also signed as a condition of their employment that they would not divulge bank dealings. His Honour said he was rather alarmed that fear of victimisation had been put forward, but it was no use an advocate making statements without substantiating them. The hearing was adjourned until to-morrow afternoon.