ECHO OF RAILWAY STRIKE

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1929, Page 9

ECHO OF RAILWAY STRIKE

MEN REGAIN LOST POSITION. PAY AND HOLIDAY ADVANTAGES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The railway strike of 1924 was called to mind by important concessions just made by the Minister of Railways to the executive of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants on behalf of a number of the second division of the service. When this organisation called out its members on the wages dispute the men were forced to return on conditions imposed by the then Minister of Railways, Mr. J. G. Coates, who, while agreeing readily that there would be no victimisation and that superannuation rights were maintained, took up the position that existing agreements regarding working conditions were in the melting pot. As a consequence of the fresh arrangements the strikers lost several advantages in their working conditions and for five years have been endeavouring to restore their former position. Now they have succeeded in getting back the eight hours’ day in place of the ten hours’ shift, with overtime at rate and a half. The new arrangement, which operates from April 1 next, will enable overtime at rate and a quarter to be paid for work in excess of eight hours in any shift. The second concession recently arranged is that on five statutory holidays during the year when the traffic and operating staff's are working at high pressure they are to be paid double time and have a day added to their annual leave, which is usually taken in the offseason of the year. This also operates from the end of the financial year.