State Service Tribunal Bill

Northern Advocate, 21 October 1949, Page 3

State Service Tribunal Bill

WELLINGTON, Fri. (P.A.)—“I won’t say the set-up is fully endorsed by all the organisations concerned, but they have accepted it,” said the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) in the House of Representatives last night. He was moving the second reading of the Government Service Tribunal Amendment Bill. The bill, he said, had resulted from negotiations with the Public Service Association, the Public Service Commission, the New Zealand Workers’ Union, and the three teachers’ organisations.

The tribunal established last year was unacceptable to the Public Service Association and the other groups and negotiations had since taken place for establishing a revised tribunal. "A good deal depends on the manner in which conciliation proceedings are carried out,” Mr Fraser added.

“1 am very hopeful that it will provide a means by which negotiations in regard to wages, salaries and working conditions can be carried out in a friendly manner.” COMPLICATIONS AHEAD’ Mr M. H. Oram (O—Manawatu) drew the attention of the Prime Minister to the unsatisfactory position of employees of the National Airways Corporation, who were drawn from various quarters and were forced to become members of the Clerical Workers’ Union. Mr W. W. Freer (G—Mt Albert) said he had been approached by the National Airways Corporation Guild, and it appeared that they had a good case. He felt that nothing could be lost by members of the guild if they left the issue for next session of Parliament to determine.

There were many other people who should be considered before the National Airways Corjxnation Guild, but later perhaps an amendment could be brought down to bring them into line with the tribunal.

Mr Fraser said that one overall remedy could not be prescribed. He would look into the position of the National Airways Corporation Guild and see what could be done.

He could see complications ahead, however.

The bill was put through the remaining stages and passed.

FOOT IN DOOR’

“We are getting all that othei sec tions of the service have got and we have a foot in the door to get more,” said the president of the Public Service Association (Mr J. P. Lewin). He was commenting on the result of 12 months’ negotiations with the Government on salary and tribunal issues when he addressed 600 public servants in Wellington last night. Mr Lewin said that they would get an immediate increase of £l3 a year from the new tribunal. Within the next fortnight after that the association would go into conciliation with claims involving another £35 per annum. The public servants’ judgment of the new set-up, said Mr Lewin, would depend on the results it achieved for the service. FINAL JUDGMENT RESERVED The meeting carried by acclamation a vote of appreciation of the services of Mr Lewin and other officers in carrying through the negotiations. It also expressed satisfaction at the successful outcome of the negotiations for the establishment of the new tribunal and asked the national executive to proceed immediately in conciliation with claims to bring the salaries of public servants “back into proper relationship with the income of other sections of the community.” "While welcoming the progress made,” the resolution added, “we shall reserve final judgment until we are able to measure the results in terms of salary rates commensurate with the services being given.”