GENERAL INCREASE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27026, 10 March 1949, Page 8

GENERAL INCREASE

RAILWAYMEN'S WAGES

INDUSTRIAL TRIBUNAL DECISION

PA WELLINGTON, Mar. 9. A majority decision of the Railways Industrial Tribunal on the wage increase for railwaymen was issued to-day. It was signed by the chairman, Judge Stilweil, and Mr E. Casey. A memorandum of dissent was entered by Mr E. A. Whitlow. The decision states that the tribunal reached the conclusion that a general increase is justified of—(a) £22 if paid on an annuai basis, (b) 2£d an hour if paid on an hourly basis, and (c) 8s 4d a week if paid on a weekly basis, excepting junior categories as otherwise providedEngine drivers (special grade) are to receive an increase of 4d an hour, which includes the sum of lid an hour awarded to remove the anomaly arising from the loss of margin when a higher cost-of-living allowance was included in the wage scales of lower categories. The following rates apply to juniors: First Division.—Male: Cadets are to receive the following increases:—(a) £ 10 a year for cadets paid at the rates Tor first and second sub-grades of grade 7, (b) £ls a year for cadets paid at the rates for third, fourth and fifth sub-grades of grade 7. Female: Short-hand-typists, book-keeping machinists and office assistants are to receive—(a) £lO a year increase to salaries specified for 16 and 17 years of age during the first and second years of service, (b) £ls a year increase thereafter up to 21 years of age. Second Division.—Male: (a) Except, ing apprentices, assistants (publicity) and cleaners, all members who are paid on schedule rates equivalent to those of labourers, etc., are to receive Id an hour increase at the ages of 16 and 17, and Ud an hour at the ages of 18. 19, and 20; (b) junior waiters and junior general hands and garage assistants are to receive increases as provided in (a) above at equivalent weekly rates. Part-time junior assistants under 16 years of age employed on an hour-to-hour basis are to receive Id an hour increase (if meals available), and lid an hour increase (if meals not available). Temporary assistants under 16 years of age employed on a 40-hour week basis are to receive an increase of 3s 4d a week. Apprentices and junior assistants (publicity) are to receive increases of Id an hour for the first and second year, lid an hour for the third, fourth and fifth year, and 2d an hour (where applicable) for the sixth year. Cleaners are to receive 2Jd an hour increase at 16 and 17 years of age, and 3d an hour increase at 18, 19, and 20 years of age. Second Division.—Female: Junior waitresses and junior bookstall assistants are to receive an increase of 5s a week. Temporary assistants under 16 years of age, and employed on a 40-hour week basis, are to receive an increase of 3s 4d a week, and if engaged on an hour-to-hour basis are to receive increases of lid an hour. The tribunal states that it is also satisfied that the above rites should operate from July 1, 1948.