Increase Does Not Solve P.S. Salaries

Northern Advocate, 21 May 1949, Page 5

Increase Does Not Solve P.S. Salaries

WELLINGTON. Sat. (P.A.).—A decision of the Government Service Tribunal increases the salaries of both male and female employees in the clerical, educational and professional divisions and of other male employees. The increases are £lO a year for those with salaries not exceeding £175, £ls for those with salaries between £175 and £275, and £22 for those whose salaries exceed £275. • The increases' granted are to be retrospective to July 1, 1948, “The decision- of the tribunal is identical with the decisions given recently by the Post and Telegraph and Railway Tribunals,” said the president of the Public Service Association (Mr J. P. Lewin). “The association did not apply to the tribunal for all it considered was due to public servants. “It made a purely pro forma application for restoration of uniformity between salaries in the Public Sendee and those in the Railway and Post and Telegraph Departments. No evidence was called for or submitted by our association. HISTORY OF PAY RATES

“This decision does not solve the salaries problem of public servants,” Mr Lewin added.

“As at October 1. 1947, the rates of pay of skilled workers in state services were £35 a year behind those operating for similar occupations in outside industry.

“The Margins and Anomalies Committee set up by the Government after an exhaustive examination of evidence extending over several months recommended that this increase was needed for October 1, 1947, to restore the salaries of skilled workers in state services to parity with ruling rates in industry.

"At the stage where the Government refused to apply the recommendations of the responsible committee, the Post and Telegraph Association, withdrew from cooperation with other state ser* vice organisations and jtook the case before its tribunal 'PREJUDICED'

“The result of this unilaterial action was that they obtained a decision which confused the 1947 salary needs with the position existing in 1949. “A further increase of £35 granted recently by the Arbitration Court to workers in industry means that a total increase of £7O a year is needed to bring the salaries of state servants up to the lvel ruling in industry. “The Post and Telegraph Association by its single-handed action, prejudiced this total claim of £7O to obtain more easily the £22 granted by the tribunal, and, in so doing, prejudiced the, wage position of all state servants. “However, the Public Service Association' has not abandoned its case for the balance of £35 recommended by the Margins and Anomalies Committee or for the equivalent of p £35 general wage increase, and will continue to take whatever action is appropriate.