Fear Complex Throughout Banking Service?

Chronicle (Levin), 8 September 1948, Page 6

Fear Complex Throughout Banking Service?

Press Associatlon)

(Per

WELLINGTON, Sept. 7. "With no hint of a concession from tlie banks on points which can only l)e regarded as serious, 1 cannot see tlia: the union can give much serious eonsideration to the employers' proposals, " said Mr. C. A. II. Brunt, for the New Zealand Bank Oflicials' Union, when the Conciliation Oouncil wliic^. is hearing the union 's claim for an mdustrial agreement resumed today. The Coneijiation Commissioner (Mr. S. Ritchie) presided. Mr. Brunt said that there was a fear complex throughout the banking service, which had prevenled bank oflicers from standing up for tlieir rights for years. That braneh managers, accountants, inspectors, and sub-inspectors should not be included in ihe provisions of the award was the decisioii of the employ ers, said the banks' advocate, Mr. \V. J. Mountjoy. Other points in dispute, ineluding the question of special mcrements and the nature and aniount of overtiine p:\ynients, if still not accept able to the union, should be referred to the Arbitration Court, said Mr. Mountjoy. Tn reference to the question of » promotion and diseiplinary ' appeal board, the banks' decision was that it was their right to determine the oflicers who sliould be promoted, as this method applied in all commereial organisations. "For a centurv the banks in New Zealand have had the iiulisputable eontrol of their fctafi', and they cannot visualise any other state of affnirs," said Mr. Brunt. "I cannot see thnt the banks have talcen the submissions made by the union at all . seriously,'" he remarked. "It is o-bvious that the banks" intend to regard the union in the same way as they regarded the guild for 30 years. It seems there is not much we can cxpect in conciliatibn. " The fea> complex to whicli he had referred was, he thouglit, largely due to the present systein of promotion and secret report. A cliange in the svstem of promotion was a vitallv necessary and importanf point. In many overseas countries the higher executivo oflicers in banks, such as branch managers, wcm-c included in the awards, and he felt that it was ixri portant tliat this should also be done in New Zealand. Mr. Ritchie said that wliat the union now had to considcr was whether it could force a seitlement in conciliation without going to tlic Court of Arbitration. " Unless there is sometliing new to put into the discussion, it is simply —

a case of beating the air," he said. An adjournment was taken to euable the® union assessors to discuss the matter further. On resuming, Mr. Brunt said the only concession the banks had allowed so far was an increase in the female scale ot £60. Mr. Mountjoy said an exehange of concessions might be possible if the banks were given time to consider it. An adjournment for an indelinite period was then taken.