Adjustments Made To Pay Of Railway Workers

Chronicle (Levin), 20 December 1949, Page 6

Adjustments Made To Pay Of Railway Workers

WELLINGTON, Dec. 19. Increases in the rates payabie to the salaried division for overtime and work perf ormed on Sundays and . holi'days, and to the general division for night work, are contained in decisions on the employees' ciaims announced today by the Goverhment Railways Industriai Tribunal. To date the tribunal has" completed its deliberations on 53 of the ciaims lodged by four serviee organisations and heard in sittings which began on November 21. Oue of the most important decisions announced today is that the maximum rate for overtime and work perf ormed on Sundays and holidays has been inereased in each case to 10s an hour. The* previous rates were 7s 9d for overtime and 9s 6d for Sunday and holiday work. This new provision covers all employees in the salaried division of the department." The tribunal also granted a general provision under which 'employees of the operating "staff will be paid _ night rates on ordinary time worked between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Previously these employees received payment at night rates for ordinary time and overtime, if any, worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. • \ In addition existing night allow anees payabie to general division employees have been inereased to a flat rate of 20s nightly. The previous rau was 17s Gd, with certain reductions after specified periods. Other tribunal decisions include dirtv work allowances; the payment of l&d an hour to employees erigaged in re moving and relaying linoleum in railway carriages; 21d an hour for eertani work in motor-vehicle cleaning; and l|d an hour for track weeding with a seuffler. Lngine-drivers: Those reeoir. mended for promotion who have successfullv completed their qualifying examina tions for advancement will be paid _s per shifl when empioyed as shed enginedrivers at certain speciiied depots. Ttic period of serviee required before an engine-driver receives the highest ra'u of pay has been reduced from 24 to 22 years. Locomotive rnnning branch: Employees in this branch will receive doubie rates after 11 hours continuous woi k per sliift (formerlv after 12 hours). Road services: Provision is made for payment at a special daily rate to bus and serviee car di'ivers while engageu in driving vehicles on special exteudeil hours. This provision is in lieu of the existing pu-. ment at the Ordinary rate of pay plus overtime wliere applicablu. Other decisions coucede or increase allowances to various categories of workers for speciiied duties. The tribunal will reassemble early in the New Year to hear the remainmg ciaims.