Railwaymen Seeking £2 A Week Pay Rise

Press, Volume C, Issue 29510, 11 May 1961, Page 16

Railwaymen Seeking £2 A Week Pay Rise

Railwaymen in Canterbury •re to ask the national council of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants to make immediate representations for a wage increase of £2 a week for them. This was decided by the Canterbury branch of the society at a meeting of between 250 and 270 railwaymen in Christchurch on Tuesday evening. The decision was announced yesterday by the president of the Canterbury branch (Mr G. Finlayson' and the secretary (Mr A. E. Armstrong). They said members at the meeting agreed that a £2 rise would bring the wage of the average railwayman up to only £l5 for a 40-hour week. I Speakers at the meeting ' said a £2 a week pay rise would put the railways in line with private enterprise organisations and help to attract more men. Shunters were working 70 to 80 hours a week, it was

said, and were faced with dismissal if they refused overtime.

The meeting also decided to seek immediate action on this overtime question. Tribunal rulings on shift work and penal rates were also criticised.

The branch decided to call another meeting to discuss what further action should be taken if there was no satisfactory settlement of the most important claims. Members at the meeting complained about conditions under which many railwaymen have to work. lighting and flooring in the Christchurch railway goods sheds, waterproof clothing. the handling of goods such as steel in the rain and the handling of other equipment were among the matters discussed

Addington Sidings Messrs Finlayson and Armstrong criticised conditions at the Addington sidings and described amenities there as “antiquated.”

They said that on wet days liquid manure ran around the doorways of the sheds where the men had to stand to eat their food A 400-gallon tank of drinking water had recently been cleaned out, and a cat, dead rats, mice and birds were found in it. A Health Department officer had said that if the tank had been owned by a private enterprise organisation there would have been a prosecution. However, as a Government department was involved the Health Department had been chary about prosecuting, the union officials said.

Addington Support For Claims Addington branch of the Railway Tradesmen’s Association last evening supported the claim of railway workers for higher wages and better conditions. A resolution passed by the meeting said: “That this branch supports the Canterbury branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants in its efforts to secure better wages and working conditions ” z.P 16 , of the branch (Mr I. E. Ellis) said that the meeting was well attended.

Passed In.—A two-storeved house at 39 Menzies street ■Sumner. was passed in at Public auction yesterday The bouse is on a 17.9 perch corner section and has seven a , B J dd * ng Started at and rose in £lOO bids to £3400.