BRITISH RAILWAYMEN.
NEW WAGES OFFER. THOMAS URGES ACCEPTANCE. £300,000 IN BACK PAY’. London, Jan. 5. An official statement on the railwaymen’s wages confirms yesterday’s cable. The branch delegates’ unions meet on Wednesday to consider the terms.
Mr. J. H. Thomas, addressing a mass meeting of railwaymen at Birmingham, recommended the acceptance of the terms, although not all they wanted nor all they intended ultimately to get. A reduction in the cost of living was more urgent than an increase in wages. Mass meetings of East London, Rhondda Valley, Northampton, Carlisle and Newcastle railwaymen unanimously rejected the Government's offer, apparently on the ground that it was not as generous is that granted to the locomotive men. who received a wage based on the highest rate paid in each grade, nstead of a wage based on the average grade.The effect of the Government s proposal is that thousands of men get ten shilling a week immediate advance, with an additional five .hillings war bonus. This will cost the Government five millions annually. A significant feature is that a scheme has been evolved undei which the cost of living will be a determining factor in permanent wage rates. When the settlement is confirmed £300.000 in back pay will be distributed among the railwaymen.—(A. and N.Z.)
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Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 19, 6 January 1920, Page 5
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212BRITISH RAILWAYMEN. Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 19, 6 January 1920, Page 5
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