40-hour Week on Railways

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 236, 6 October 1936, Page 7

40-hour Week on Railways

* k First Division Dissatisfied

EQUALITY OP TREATMENT DEMANDED Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Tlte Dominion executive of the New Zealand Railway Officers' Institute has issued a statement taking strong exception to the remarks of the General Manager of Railways (Mr. G. H. Mackley) at Auckland on Saturday evening respecting the application of the -10hour week to division I of the service.

The Institute, which represents the official and clerical staffs, asserts that thero is serious dissatisfaction amongst its members owing to tho differential treatment accorded them ’ during the transitory period following the introduction of the 10-hour week principle. It is claimed that a period of time must elapse beforo full effect can bo given to tho -10-hour week owing to suostantial adjustments in staffing arrangements being necessary and also on account of t a approach of ttio busy Christmas and New Year period. „ The executive states that the general manager failed to fulfil his promise to include representatives of tho .institute in the conference which took place between tho management and other staff organisations to discuss the application of tho 40-hour week. Division i members do not receive payment for time worked in excess of 10 hours per week although payment is granted to the clerical staffs of other branches of the publie service. The general manager has persisted in his contention tliat payment to one section of employees and no payment to others does not constitute inequality of treatment, JVlembers of the workshops, locomotive, traffic and other branches of tho service (known as division II) arc now r paid a full week’s wages for 10 hours’ work whilst for tho time worked between 40 and IS 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 -IS hours per week division II members are paid at one and quarter limes the new hourly rate.

The general manager’s reference to the service conditions applicable to division I members such as annual leave, sick pay, etc., is considered to be misleading in that such conditions were in operation years before the 40-hour week was contemplated. Various conditions applying to all sections of the railway service havo therefore no bearing whatever on tho differential treatment accorded division I members in connection with the operation of the 40hour 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 the foregoing as applying to division II members are 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.