THE RAILWAYS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 September 1924, Page 5

THE RAILWAYS

PAY AND CONDITIONS OF MEN

THE BOARD’S RECOMMENDATIONS

.Tne reports cf the Board of Inquiry into ,rates of pay and conditions or work of railway employees as represented by tne Amalgamated bociety of Kail way Servants, state: Tlie Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants presented seventy-one claims, and tffe Department presented six claims, for tne consideration of the Board. Tne seventy-seven claims have been disposed of as foflows.

That leading line-erectors be classified and receive the same rate of pay as leading signal erectors.—The departmental advocate intimated that there was no objection to this claim being granted wnen the classification was being reviewed. The Board recommends accordingly: That on all statutory holidays tabletporters be paid from first booking on udty till finally booking off'.—Tiie Board cannot make a recommendation in regard to the claim as it stands, but (recommends that .tablet porters shall not be booked off duty for any period of less than one hour on statutory ■ holidays.

That all casual quarrymen and bal-last-pit employees be paid for wet. weather, and treated in all respects in the same way as surfacemen.—•The Board recommends that where these men travel to, and from their work by ballast or other train, and no work is done on any day "by reason of web weather, such men shall be paid travelling time (including waiting-time between the outgoing and returning trains) to and from their place of work on such day; and that where work has been commenced on any day, and is suspended on account of wet weather, the men, if ordered to stand by, shall be paid for the time they are standing by; but so that, in any case, they shall not be entitled to. receive more than a day’s wages for any day. That all overtime rates be computed on the schedule rate of pay. —The Joard recommends that all overtime rates be computed on the classified hourly, daily, or weekly rates of pay, as the case may be. That double time now granted for Sundays and departmental holidays be computed on the schedule rate of pay. —The Board, while not making a recommendation in the precise terms of the claim, recommends that the rates for Sundays and departmental holidays be computed on the classified rates of pay- '

That where any member is booked off for less than eight hours at his home station betsveen shifts, he be granted three hours’ standing-time. (Regulation 115). —The Department's advocate intimated that no objection would be offered to adding to Regulation 115 (2) (b) (i) the words “Provided , however, that when a guard is booked off for less than eight hours between shifts he shall be granted two hours’ standing-time.” The society’s advocate stated that this would be satisfactory. The Board recommends accordingly.

That standing - time at foi’eign stations as dealt with in Regulation 115 be defined.—The Board recommends that Regulation 115 (2) (a) (ii) be deleted, and the following provision substituted therefor: “When such guard is booked off duty for rest, under such circumstances as to entitle him to payment of night allowance, he 'shall be paid three "hours’ standing-time, at his ordinary rate of pay, if the period for which he is booked off duty is less than eight hours; and if such guard, is booked off duty duiring a shift he shall be paid standing-time at his ordinary rate of pay lor the time booked off up to four hours; but in neither case shall such standing-time be taken into account for the purpose of computing overtime.”

That the working hours of all shunters shall not exceed six per shift. —The departmental advocate said that the hoars of shuntelrs at busy stations were, as far as possible, restricted to eight daily. In view of the nature of the work performed. by shunters, the Board is of the opinion that every effort should be made to equalise their daily hours at stations where the wo)rk is heavy and continuous, and recommends accordingly. That all time between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. be counted as continuous, and no deduction made for meals. —The Board has dealt- with employees, other than shunters on night shift, under claim 29, and recommends that shunters on night shift between 10 p.m. and 6 a_.m. shall be given time off during their shift for a meal; such time not to exceed half an hour; and if less than half an hour to be tireated as continuous tim^'worked. That the winter period for gangers be extended from September 15 to October 15. —The Board recommends that this claim be granted. That gangers and surfacemen in suburban areas be gjranted Saturday afternoon as their weekly half-holiday. ;The Board recommends that, instead o,f these employees being granted a day off every month, they be granted, if the majority of the gang so desire, alternate Saturday afternoons off. This can be so arranged • as to ensure that half of each suburban gang will be on duty lor the full day every Saturday, so that the line will not be left umvatched for an unduly long period. That wheer any dispute arises between the Society and the Railway Department, whether out of the interpretation of any agreement or any other matter, such dispute shall be referred to an independent tribunal, consisting of equal representation from the Department and our Society, with a chairman to be mutually agreed upon, the decision of such board to be final until a new agreement is made.—This claim, as formulated, embodies the principle of a Whitley Council, with exceedingly wide powers. The report of the subcommittee of the inter-Departmental Committee on the application of the Whitley report to Government establishments, submitted to the Imperial Parliament in 1919, was to the effect that Whitley Councils in the civil service must of necessity be merely consultative and advisory. If given wider functions the councils would usurp those of the Minister, whose control of the service must remain unimpaired, subject only to ultimate Parliamentary control. The Board' is accordingly of the opinion that the claim, in its present form, cannot be given effect to. We think, however, that section 9 of the Government Railways Amendment Act, 1921, provides machinery for the setting up of a Board to inquire into matters on which the regulations are silent, or. concerning which there is a difference of opinion regarding the interpretation of the regulations. With one dissentient (Mr Mason) we recommend the setting up of a board from time to time to consider such matters as may be referred.to it, and to report thereon to the Minister.

That the practice of paying off casuals at one place and re-engaging them at another be discontinued.—This claim is intended to cover the case of casual hands employed on ballast gangs arid line gangs who are transferred from place to place without the continuity of

their employment being broken. The Board recommends that in sucli cases the men be paid travelling-time between station and station, provided the amount paid in respect of wages and travelling-time shall not exceed a day’s wage for any one day. This recommendation not imply that the Department is to he restricted in any way in .-its right to determine a casual employee’s engagement, or that any allowance beyond payment of travellingtime is to be paid to any casual employee so transferred. That where any large number of men are employed a suitable dining-room be provided.—lt is understood that the Department is in sympathy with this claim, and is giving effect to it wherever possible. The Board recommends that funds be made available for continuing this work as circumstances permit. more particularly when new buildings are being erected or existing buildings altered.

That the maximum proportion of apprentices to journeymen in railway workshops be increased!—This is a matter not covered by the regulations. It is unreasonable to fix a uniform proportion of apprentices to journeymen for all trades, and the proportion limited by the awards of the*Court of Arbitration differs for the different trades. The Board recommends that instructions be given that the proportion of apprentices .to journeymen in each trade shall be so regulated as to ensure a sufficient number of tradesmen being trained for the Department’s requirements, without leaving an unabsorbed surplus, but that in no case shall the proportion exceed the maximum fixed by the current trade awards or the current general orders made under the Apprentices Act, 1923, by the Court of Arbitration for the different trades. On several matters the Board has no recommendation to make. .

That the division barrier existing as between the First and Second Divisions of the railway service be removed.— The Board recognises that in a classified service, such as that of the Railway , Department, . specialisation " of duties commences from the beginning of a member’s service, more especially as between the work of the First and Second Divisions. Hence it is apparent that any scheme for modifying the conditions on which members of the Second Division can be promoted to the First Division must of necessity apply only to junior members. We do not suggest that, so far as adult members are concerned, the general nature.or standard of the examination should be altered in the direction of red/ucing its value as a test. We are, however, of the opinion that the matter of providing further facilities for promising members, more particularly ’ junior members, of the Second Division to qualify for promotion to the First Division is worthy of consideration, and we recommend that it be referred to a special committee comprising representatives of the Department and the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. This Board has not had the material before it to enable it to make any concrete recommendation, for the amendment of Regulation 49. That the matter of tarring andpainting viaducts in the various districts be considered.—The Board recommends that the tarring of viaducts be paid for as dirty work. The • Board also recommends that where, owing to high winds, employees engaged, in painting viaducts are unable. to perform their work, without getting their clothing more .than ordinarily dirty, they be considered for oayment of dirt allowance.

That Regulation 67, sub-clause' (b); be amended to include all gangers:— The departmental advocate intimated that this claim was not objected to. fhe Board recommends accordingly. That where gangers and surfacemen are taken off their ordinarv lengths to perform special work they be' paid travelling time each way.—The Board recommends accordingly. That all gangers be brought within the provisions of Regulation 92—The Board recommends accordingly. That; the latter portion of Rtegulation 41. (be givfen effect to—The depart-, mental ’advocate stated that the Department gave effect to the regulation. The Board is of the'“poinion that an employee should be notified at the earliest opportunity of any adverse report. so that he may have time to correct any falut. The Board therefore recommends that the regulations be constructed with the utmost liberality. 1 hat the present restrictions governing privilege tickets as applied to members children be removed.—The denartmental advocate intimated'that the Department was willing to delete the second sentence of Regulation 154 but that this amendment should not affect Regulation 159. The Board recommends accordingly.

BOARD OF INQUIRY REPORT. EFFECT UPON FINANCE. (By Telegraph.—Special to Star.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 15. '* hat have tne railwaymen lost or gained through reference of their claims to the recent tribunal ? The majority report accepted by the Government does not show this, but it can be explained briefly. The traffic running section has suffered the greatest loss of pay and privileges, the outstanding loss of the men through the strike is the eight-hour datf, a*id they do not get 4Jns back. _As thin*; stand the Railway Department has a more elastic method of arranging the shifts of its running staff, because it may work them up to 'ten hours in any day without the payment of overtime, and may work in this time during any of the hours of the twenty-four. Formerly time worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. was paid for at rate and a quarter. This cost the Department in 1923 a sum of £151,175, but the night rate now disappears. However, the board has given the men some concession in awarding rate and a half for time worked in excess of ten hours. It provides, however, that if the men work more than 48 hours in the week they will not be paid overtime on any overtime already worked. It is believed by those who understand railway working conditions that the Department will be .so able to adjust the shifts as to largely avoid the payment of overtime on the day’s work. SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS.

The Department has secured an important reduction in costs by the majority decision of the bqard that double time is not to be paid for Sunday hours worked in commencing or finishing a. shift. This Sunday time will be paid at rate and a hall. Dominion Day has been removed from the schedule of departmental .holidays, and the Department thus avoids paying double tune. It has also secured a reduction in the costs on ordinary holiday working by a provision that the men so employed may elect to be paid at the ordinary rate for actual time worked and having one day added to their annual leave, or, as an alternative, to receive a minimum of six hours’ employment at double rates without any addition to their annual leave. Formerly the men got double

time and an*additional day’s leave ;fpR work on statutory holidays." f - TABLET PORTERS AFFECTED.

Night rates for tablet porterg are also withdrawn. These mein 'have worked 48 and 56 hours-according to the class of station.! When the 48- - hour week came into force,their hours were not caapble of extension, and they did not participate in the additional 7s 3d weekly paid on ah average to men whose work was extended from 44 to'4B hours. /'They... and'-: in\ future., to be paid overtime .rates at-rafe arid a half for work iii excess of "48 or 56 hours. The withdrawal. of night pates tor this class of employee earning a basic rate will mean a reduction in pay, especially to a large number of , ’ tablet porters who obtained, the night rate in connection with the Auckland- ' Wellington'express scheduled, Tyhich 'in-*' volve a good deal of night runningv,.. : NO STAFF .DISMISSALS. - The full effect of the changed follows 1 mg the strike and the Wages Board’s decisions will not be immediately ;ievident in the Railway Department Vwage bill, as it .was r obliged" t’o : pay 7s 2d weekly to each employee?'affected by the 48-hour;week extension. It immedi_ rately saves £BOOO annually by the abolt tion of the night rate,'but the'-saving due to the extended > week will only gradually give finajicial,,benefit ~owing to the undertaking not to dispense with the staff. The average number of resignations and dismissals from the service annually is about ;IOOP, and ; the -, Department is following a policy of not 1 * making good any such' deficiencies in the staff This plan, assisted by. the natural growth of the traffic,- .ydiieli would in the ordinary course involve •, additional hands, will, within a year - enable the full benefit of the 1 48-hour week to be secured by the administration. To have secured , the financial benefit from the 48-hour "week would have necessitated the dismissal ; ! of 1000 to 1200 employees.. : ?;