SERIOUS DISAFFECTION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19138, 6 October 1936, Page 5

SERIOUS DISAFFECTION

OFFICIALS OF RAILWAYS DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT FORTY-HOUR WEEK PLANS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this: day. The Dominion executive of tho New Zealand Railway Officers’ Institute has issued a statement taking strong exception; to. remarks made by the general manager of railways, Mr. G. H. Mackley, at Auckland on Saturday evening respecting the application of the 40-hour work week to division one of the sei-vice.

The institute, which represents 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 40-bour week owing to substantial adjustments in the staffing arrangements being necessary, and also on account of the approach of the husy 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. It is stated that division one members do not receive payment for time worked in excess of 40'hours per week, although payment is granted to the clerical staffs of other branches of the Public Service.' MANAGER »S CONTENTION “The general manager has persisted in his contention that payment to one section of employees, and no payment to others, does not constitute inequality of treatment,” continues the institute statement. “Members of the workshops, locomotive, traffic and other branches of the service, known as division two, are now paid a full week’s wages for 40 hours of work, whilst for the time worked between 40 and 48 hours per week such members are paid additional ■wages at their ordinary hourly rate of pay, \yhich 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, division two members are paid at one and a quarter times the new hourly rate. “The general manager’s reference to the service conditions applicable to division one members, sucn as annual leave, sick pay, etc., is considered, to. be misleading in that such conditions were in operation years' before the 40-htmr week was contemplated. Various conditions applying to all sections of the railway service have, therefore, no bearing whatever on the differential treatment accorded division one members in connection with the operation of the 40-hour week,” GRADING RESTORATION Respecting regrading, the institute affirms that the Railway Board degraded many positions during the depression and abolished others, but the general manager is now most reluctant to, restore the positions and gradings commensurate with the increased duties and responsibilities now prevailing. It is suggested that 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 I and has not yet been published,” continues the statement. Other branches of the Public Service have already benefited substantially from the goodwill promotion arrangements, and the institute claims its members are entitled. to equal treatment.