TRIBUNAL TO DISCUSS AIR-CREW GRIEVANCES

Chronicle (Levin), 8 December 1947, Page 7

TRIBUNAL TO DISCUSS AIR--CREW GRIEVANCES

Press Association)

(Per

AUCIAJUAINJJ, ne C. (. The overseas air services operated by Tasman Empire Airways Ltd. and the National Airways Corporation will resume to-morrovC f ollowing an agreenient reached to-day that the dispute involving air-crew radio operators vvouid be considered by a tribunal appointed- by the Minister of Labour (Hon. A. McLagan) under the Strikes and Lookout Emergency Regulations. No Tasman ilights have taken place since Thursday and the radio operators' strike, which was announeed late on Thursday night, also resu-lted in the suspeusion of th§ Corporation 's service to Suva. The Corp'oration 's weeklv service to Norfolk Lsland^ liowever, was maintained to'-day under an amended time sehedule. The aireraft, whieli normally leaves Whenuapai at 8 a.m. and returns by 6 p.m., departed shortlv after 4 p.m. It was to make a night flight back to Auckland and was expected to arri%re at about 1 a.m. to-morrow. Mr. (4. N. Roberts, general manager of Tasman Empire Airways, announeed that' as a result of a meeting between the management of the company anu the union agent (Xlr. J. H. Collins) it was then agreed that the radio officers would man the company 's aireraft. tomorrow upon the understanding that both the company and the radio officers would abide by "the decisiou of tlie tribunal which would consider the dispute on Deeeinber 10. "Two flving-boats will leave Mechanics Bay for Sydney to-morrow niorning," said Mr. Roberts. "The first is expected to depart at S a.m. and the second at S.30 a.m. National Airways' overseas services will also resume today. Sections of tlie company 's staii remained on duty throughout the weekend. All the employees have been standing by since last Thursday awaiting news of the resumption of the service. " The directors of Tasman Empire Airways conferred \sith XLr. Collins on Friday and after the board meeting which lastcd until 10 p.m.. made an oll'er by letter to the union. No reply was received from the union on I'hviday night, but on Eaturday, Mr. Collins udvised the board that after careful consideration, the tenns it had proposed were unacceptabie to the union. The ehairman of Tasman Airways (Eir Leonard Isitt) said that tlie board 's oll'er to the union stated tluu the members considered the ternis most generous. Tlie payment oflercd a seiuor radio officer was £700 a year rising to £800. For radio ollicers (class oue) tlie offer was £050 rising to £750. For radio officers (class two) the oll'er was £350 rising to £050. Tliere also was a eertilioate pay of £30 annually to personnel with special addeil qualifications. Tlie oll'er involved a salary iucrease to a senior radio officer of £175 and to tlie others tlie iucreases ranged from £95 to £195. There was also a retrospeetive pay offer and douhle the normal rates for overlime. There was provision ±ov additional niatters to be submitted to nrbitration.