NO GENERAL WAGE RISE

Chronicle (Levin), 6 February 1947, Page 7

NO GENERAL WAGE RISE

-JPress Association

Railway s Tribunal Grants linor Applications

By Telegrctph-

WELLINGTON, Feb.. 5. No general wage inereases have been granted by the Railways • lndustrial Tribunal which today released its lindings. ! The Tribunal hacl before it an applieation for a wage increase of l.kl per hour for tradesmen and an applieation for inereases for engjne-drivers, lirenien and cleahers ranging from 6|d to 9fd per hour, but tliese claims were disallowed. . The only wage inereases given are of a minor liature to remove anomalies cpnsidered to exist in certain spccial groups. Oi' (I!) claims presented to the Tribunal, two were withdrawn. Oi' the otliers, several were joint claims affeeting all the service or-« ganisations — A.S.R.S., R.T.A., R.O.I, and E.F.C.A., but most were individual claims affeeting only oue organisation and of this lalter class ihe greatest number were claims oi' ihe A.S.R.S. The Tribunal 's principal findings are as follow: — Provision is made for timo worked 011 Sunday, 011 a SundayMonday shil't, to be taken into eonsideration in computing overtime on that sliift. Pi'ovision is made for penal paymenls under certain conditions wlien rostered shifts are altered 01* eancelled. Improvcments are made regarding Ihe spread oi hours worked on Sundays and departmental holidays. Tinie worked in an advanced efi])aci1y is not to be taken into accoiHit for ihe purposes of the guaranlocd week. Payment is to be made to works staff oiiiployoes on a speeified basis i'oi- iime taken in travelling to and from huts and job by velocipede (railway jigger). A11 allowanee of 3d per hour is granled i'or work in confined spaces wliicli ol)lige the worker to work in a cramped position or without pro])er ventilation or in coiidiiions of unusual discomiort. Jm])roved maxinmm and minilnum j-aies are provided for First jDivision workers in respect of idouble raio overtirne. Division Oue employees are also ' gi'a-ntcd -a fouivbour "miiviinum'if' ealled upou 10 work 011 depart.iueiilal liolidavs. | Division Onc workers are enItitled io payment at the advanced Jcapaciiy raio it they relieve in )hig]ier paid positions for seven clays or moi-e (the previgus miniinum was 21 days). i Improved allowances are given i Ijbicksmdhs in cliarge of two-ton i i'oi-ging hainmors. j A wage increase of |d per hour, jfroni 3s 1 7 1 io 3s 3} d, is given gas eutlers ader iwo years' service. Alela! p alishers are to receive an iiicr ase oi ld per liour, from :3s 1 ! i io 3s 2j, after two years' service. A beiglii allowanee of 2d per lionr is m.ule to maintenance braneli em])loyees working on si (••]) 1'aces 35 l'eet or more above the iraeks in eases where safety ! ropes are provided. j Plale-lavers' rates of pay shall 1 be paid io employees of line gangs

(other than gaii^ers) when perfonning resieepering, rerai'ling and building or: replacing points and erossings o«' main lines. The minimum'period in connection with the speeial payment to maintenance branch employees when clearing falidmlips or hreakdowns, is reduced from 8 hours to 4 hours. Spccial alfowanccs of 2:{:d per hour for driverS and 3:l*d for laliourers, are made to employees in Wellington only, engaged on household removal duties. This is to compensate for the hilly streets in Wellington. An allowanee of lkl per hour is made for labourers working witli concrete. A wage increase of ljd per hour is given crane drivers operating wharf cranes in Greymouth and Westport, increasing their pay from 3s lij-d to 3s 3£d hourly. A wage increase of lkl hourly, increasing the rate from 3s 4-ld to 3s 6d hourly, is granted to oue speeified class of mechanics in the signal and electrical branch, applicable after two years' adult service. . The previous lowest rate for guards, 3s 4kl hourlv, is abolished. Time allowances are granted for preparing and putting away certain types of locoinotives where payment is made on a inileage basis for a particular run. Some improvements are made iii tool allowances paid to tradesmen. The tool allowanee is, extended to third year apprentices and. to trainee tradesmen in trades speeified in the order. An adjustme'nt is made retaining rights to retiring leave and the issue of free passes to employees who are under "the provisions of the Su])erannuation Amendment Act .1945, who elect to cease contributing to ,the Railvvays Superannuation Fund. Various claims for increased dirt money have been deferred. Aniong the claims disallowed by Ihe Tribunal was that of the R.T.A. asking that travel to and irom work on departmental transport be free to railway employees and also h claim that Anhiversary Day, Dominion Day and January 2 be - recognised as departmental holidays.