RAILWAY SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23004, 6 October 1936, Page 10

RAILWAY SERVICE

APPLICATION OF FORTY-HOUR WEEK BELAY IN FIRST DIVISION DISSATISFACTION CREATED (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Oct. 5. The Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Railway Officers Institute has issued a statement taking strong exception to the remarks of the genera] manager of railways (Mr G. H. Mackley) at Auckland on Saturday evening respecting the application of first division of the 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 elapse before full effect can be given to the 40hour week owing to substantia) adjustments in staffing arrangements being necessary, and also on account of the approach of the busy Christmas and New Year period. The executive states that the general manager failed to fulfil his promise to include representatives of the institute in the conference which took place between the management and other staff organisations to discuss the"application of the 40-hour week First division members do not receive payment for time worked in excess of 40 hours per week, although payment is granted to j the clerical staffs of other branches of the public service The general manager lias persisted in his contention, the statement proceeds, 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 the second division) are now paid a full week's wages for 40 hours' work, whilst for 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, second division members are paid at one and aquarter times the new hourly rate. The genera] manager's reference to service conditions applicable to first division members, such as annual leave, sick pay,', etc., is considered to be misleading in that such conditions were in oration years before the 40-hour week was contemplated. The various conditions applying to all sections of the railway service have therefore no bearing whatever on the differential treatment accorded to first division members in connection with the operation of the 40-hour week. Respecting re-grading, the institute affirms that the Railways Board de-graded many positions during the depression and abolished others, but the general manager is now most reluctant to restore 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 foreeoing ar applying to Second Division 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 that its members are entitled to equal treatment.