TROUBLE FEARED

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 23 January 1926, Page 5

TROUBLE FEARED

* RAILWAYMEN IN BRITAIN. THE WAGES QUESTION CREATES CRITICAL SITUATION BY CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Jan. 21. Trouble lias again arisen in the railway world, to-day's conference of branch delegates of the National Union ol' Railwayman rejecting the award of the National Wages Board, which, after considering the companies’ claims for a reduction of wages and the men s counter-claims for increases, Ims issued a report, practically maintaining the status quo. It is noteworthy that the men’s leaders, ex-Minister Thomas and Dobbie, signed the board’s report. Though to-day’s conference is generally regarded as the most critical since the last big strike, it is gathered that the decision merely reflects a movement for reopening of negotiations. Delegates are not anxious to commit the Union to strike action. The decision creates a delicate situation, the award being due to eome into opoi'"fion on February 1. The conference injects again to-morrow to consider the m-xt move, though it is believed that no decision regarding strike action will be taken until the Union’s executive meets the companies and has endeavoured to reopen negotiations or secure a postponement of the application oi the award. The decision of the railwaymen raises issues of the utmost gravity, but it must not be regarded as final, as tue companies may be persuaded not to operate the award on February 1. The companies have already announced the'r adherence to the award. The railwaymen's position is complicated by the fact that the men are now rejecting the advice of Messrs. Thomas and Cramp. It is understood the chief reason i -: dissatisfaction is the scale of base rates arranged for the lower grade workers, but these only apply to men who join the companies in the future, as the present employees receive a bonus based on the cost of living. The railway apparently fear that new workers, earning lower money, will displace men receiving a sliding scale bonus.