RAILWAY SERVICE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 264, 6 October 1936, Page 12

RAILWAY SERVICE

FORTY-HOUR WEEK. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 5. The Dominion eecutive of the New Zealand Railway Officers’ Institute lias issued a statement taking strong exception to the remarks of the General Manager of Railways (Mr G. H. Mackley) at Auckland oil Saturday evening respecting the application of the 40hour week to Division I of tho service. The institute, which represents the official and clerical staffs, asserts that there is serious dissatisfaction amongst its members owing to the differential treatment accorded them during the transitory period following the introduction of the 40-hour week principle. It is claimed that a period of time must elajise before full effect can l>e given to the 40-liour week owing to substantial adjustments in staffing arrangements being necessary, and also on account of the approach of the busy Christmas and New Tear period. Tho executive states that tho general manager failed to fulfil his promise to include representatives of tho institute in tho conference which took place between the management and other staff organisations to discuss the application of the 40-hour week. Division I members do not receive payment for time worked in excess of 40 hours per week, although payment is granted to the clerical staffs of other branches of the public service. The general manager lias persisted in his contention that payment to one section of employees and no payment to others does not constitute inequality of treatment. Members of the workshops, locomotive, traffic and other branches of the service (known as Division II) are now paid a. full week’s wages for 40 hours’ work whilst for tho time worked between 40 and 48 hours per week such members are paid additional wages at their ordinary hourly rate of pay which varies from 10 to 20 per cent, more than the rates existing prior to September 1 last. On the completion of 48 hours per week Division If members are paid at one and a-quarter times the new hour- I ly rate. The general manager’s reference to tho service conditions applicable to Division I members such as annual leave, sick pay, etc., is considered to be j misleading in that such conditions wero in operation years before the_ 40hour week was contemplated. Various conditions applying to all sections of the railway service have, therefore, no bearing whatever on the differential treatment accorded Division I members in connection with the operation of tho 40-hour week.

Respecting regrading the institute affirms that the Railways Board degraded many positions during the depression and abolished others, but the general manager is now most reluctant to restore the positions and gradings commensurate with the increased duties and responsibilities now prevailing. Other branches of the public service have received much more reasonable treatment.

“Regarding goodwill promotions it is interesting to note that the general manager is still undecided although the classification list was due on April 1 and has not yet been published. Other branches of the public service have already benefited substantially from goodwill promotions. The arrangements outlined in tho foregoing as applying to Division II members aro to remain in operation until the 40-hour week is an accomplished fact and it is in this respect that the institute claims its members are entitled to equal treatment.”