RAILWAY AGREEMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18048, 23 September 1920, Page 5

RAILWAY AGREEMENT

LOCOMOTIVE BRANCH. DANGER OF DEADLOCK. (Fbom Oue Own Coiuiespondent.) WELLINGTON, September 22. Something like a deadlock has been reached in the dispute between the Railway Department and tho locomotive branch of the servioo (the Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association). After the railway strike in May last special tribunals were set up to consider tho railwaymen. The members of tho traffio branch (tho Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants) and the clerical branch (the Railway Officers' Institute) accepted tho recommendations of the tribunals that dealt with their cases, but the looomotive branch has not accepted. A ballot of the members of the branch resulted in a largo majority voting' against the acceptance of the terms proposed by tho tribunal Since then the executive of the E.F;C.A. has conferred with the Minister of Railways, but no settlement has been reached, and it is reported now that the looomotive men are threatening another stoppage. Tho chief point in dispute relates to the hours of work. Tho locomotivc men arc demanding a 44- hours' week. This was not a, part of thoir original claim, and the department is not prepared to make the concession, which would havo to be extended to other branches of tlio railway service,' and to other Government departments. Tho point has been discussed with tho Minister of Railways (Mr Massey) but no settlement has been reached. '