PUBLIC SERVICE WAGE CLAIMS

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 December 1948, Page 5

PUBLIC SERVICE WAGE CLAIMS

PRESSURE MAINTAINED ON GOVERNMENT BY ASSN. WELLINGTON, Last Night (P.A.) —Pressure on the Government was being maintained by the service representatives where they could and how th * cou'.d, to get a favourable decision on the current wage claims, said Mr. .1. P. Lewin, president ot the New Zealand Public Service Association, addressing a-meeting organised by the Wellington section o£ the association in the Majestic Theatre. Mr. Lewin said that in spite ot the “disruptive tactics” by the Post and Telegraph staff representatives who had attempted to create disharmony, the remaining nine service organisations concerned were continuing their pressure and hoped to force the Government to change its mind. About 1500 to 1600 persons were present, including representatives on the platform from four railway stall organisations. Many left before the meeting ended, but the great majority remained until the following resolutions were adopted, with two dissentients:

“This meeting of members of the Public Service Association and sister organi zlions strongly condemns the action of the Government in its failure to grant the legftmiate salaries claims of State employees, and fully supports the executives of the combined organisations in their determination to maintain pressure on the Government until these claims are fairly settled. “This mass meeting of State employees regards the introduction oi the Government Services Tribunal Bill as a deliberate attempt by the Government to mask its refusal to adjust wage rates in the Public Service, and at the same time to force the Public Service into a fettered Arbitration Court. White supporting the Public Service Association policy for a fully empowered tribunal, we unitedly affirm our determination not to enter the tribunal unless it is a fully empowered one, and in any event, we demar.' that a satisfactory settlement on the wages question be first reached.” The meeting also carried a resolution of confidence in the leadership of the president (Mr. Lewin) and the secretary (Mr. J. Turnbull). Mr. Lewin said it was particularly important whether a salaries tribunal was set up at this stage. At best it could only be a polite formula for a truce at worst, if the Bill went through in its present form v it could only oe an economic straight-jacket into which no leadership of an organisation worth its name could take its members.

The Post and Telegraph staff representatives had not succeeded in their disruptive tactics, he said. When they left a meeting of the combined Service organisations representatives of the remaining nine organisations concerned unanimously decided that the wage question was the main issue and determined to continue to mobilise the interest and sympathy of public servants. Those nine bodies of public servants were: Four railway organisations, three teachers organisations, police, and the Public Service Association. At the sJme time it was decided to give the executive the fullest possible opportunity to negotiate with the Government on a salaries tribunal.

Mr. Lewin added that significant improvements in the Bill setting up the tribunal had now been offered by the Government and would urobablv be incorporated in the committee stages. The nine organisations were still hoping the Government would change its mind on the wage question and give staff organisations a fair decision. Mr. T. F. Gebbie, secretary of the Railway Tradesmen’s Association, addressing the meeting, said the presence on the platform of the railway representatives demonstrated that this wage issue was not only one for the Public Service Association, but vitally concerned every Government employee.