RAILWAYMEN’S WAGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27570, 12 December 1950, Page 6

RAILWAYMEN’S WAGES

Demands For Further Increase MEETING AT HILLSIDE A further step in the dispute over railway wage s was taken by the Hillside branch of the Railway Tradesmen’s Association yesterday when a telegram requesting support for a demand for a Is 3d an hour increase was received. The telegram stated: “ Combined RTA, ASRS and EFCA of Auckland and Otahuhu demand an increase of Is 3d. Zero hour is 12 p.m. on December 18. Direct action is contemplated if the demand is not met. We are holding a ballot and request your support.” The meeting decided unanimously to support the wage claim and also promised to support any action taken by the association on a national basis. Mr V. G. Robinson, chairman of the Hillside branch, told the Daily Times after the meeting that the policy of the association was that there should be marginal differences of 33 1-3 per cent, for tradesmen over the ' basic rate of the wage-earner. Mr Justice Tyndall had stated that in no other country was the margin for skilled tradesmen as low as in New Zealand. -At that time the margin was approximately 10 per cent, compared with the Australian marginal rate of 35 per cent. Press Association messages from Wanganui and Greymouth report that similar resolutions were adopted by railways organisations in those centres.