BACKBREAKING AND HEARTBREAKING

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23323, 5 October 1945, Page 4

BACKBREAKING AND HEARTBREAKING

Operation Of Locomotives Railwaymen Seek More Pay (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 4. Before the Railways Tribunal today. claims for wages increases -were presented. The major claim was by the A.S.R.S. for an increase of 4‘d an hour for all its members. The claim said that when the order issued by the Tribunal early this year was, taken as the basis for a general increase in industrial wages, its purpose was defeated as the relation between wages within and without the railway service returned to its status quo. The society’s 1944 claim was to the effect that an increase of 6d an hour was necessary to bring railway rates into line with those in industry generally and compensate for the special skills and conditions of rail-way life. Since then wage rates had risen 31d an hour or its equivalent. To restore and preserve the margin between railway and other workers a further 6d an hour would be required. The society had compromised by spilling the difference and claimed 41d. being 2Jd, the balance of the 1944 claim, and 2d to restore the margins disturbed by the general rise of 31d in awards. It was pointed out that the effective wages of all adult male workers had risen on official figures by 11 per cent since 1936, while in the railways the comparable increase was 2.3 per cent. The General Manager. Mr J. Sawers. submitted that such an increase as sought would result in an effort being made by organisations of workers to have a similar increase generally adopted. Such an increase would seriously affect economic stability. The E.F.C.A. also submitted claims which were described as similar to those of 1944. except that no claim was made for any member below the grade of third year fireman, and that, the rate for a fireman acting as an engine driver after 15 years’ sendee -was increased by Id an hour to preserve the margin previously agreed to. Applicants pointed out that the use of bad coal a few years ago resulted in a 1/a day dirty coal allowance for men operating steam locomotives. The position regarding coal had deteriorated considerably in the last 12 or 18 months, and the operation of locomotives was backbreaking and heartbreaking.