RAILWAY SERVANTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1816, 31 July 1913, Page 5

RAILWAY SERVANTS.

TWO PETITIONS TO PARLIAMENT,

.A petition from tho Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants in regard to various working conditions was presented to the House yesterday by Mr. AV. A. \ eitcli (AVan"anui). The society asks that the present division barrier be abolished and tho following substituted:— "That the first ■division consist of members* of the service from the tenth grade upwards, and that tho second division embrace tlie rest of tho service; that the tenth grade be drawn froiii tlie ranks of the guanls, signalmen, storemen, and shunters, and others who have qualified in outdoor work, duo regard being paid to seniority, and those men who are now eligible by reason of qualification ' and length of service for the position of coaching goods foremen and ticket inspectors, same to commence at not less than ,£215 per year; that in future all members start in the second division, and be eligible to perform either clerical or outdoor work."

It was asked that shunters, signalmen, storamen, etc., be placed on tho same footing a= guards, enginemen, and firemen in regard to overtime, and that all men engaged iu shunting be paid as shunters; that all hour to hour casuals be paid at the rate of Is. 3d. per hour; that way and works men ha paid wet and dry, and for all travelling time; that accident pay commence from the date of accident; that me.u employed on driving cars and at Government sawmills be placed on tho permanent staff; that oil members joining be placed on tho D 3, according to length of service; that i)o junior surfacemen or platelayers be employed: that five shillings per night lodging allowance be paid to all members of the second division; that members may obtain privilege tickets for members of their family under the age of fourteen years; tliat members of the second division be granted not less than twelve days' leave each year, and that they have representation on Departmental boards of inquiry; that contribiv tors to tho superannuation fund who btc retrenched or dismissed from tlie service be allowed to continue their contributions to the fund until they have readied the retiring age or have lieen reinstated; that in the event of a member retiring upon the fund, the widow be allowed tho amount provided for widows whose husbands' die beforo retirement. It is also asked that full civil and political rights be granted to nil railway employees. Another petition presented to the House yesterday emanated from Mr. M. J. Mack, secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, asking that the JTou.sc, reject the petition of the Engine Drivers',' Firemen, and Gleaners' Association, praying that legislation be intraduced enabling tho Minister for Railways to recognise that union officially. The reason given by the Amalgamated Society for opposing the petition of the p-o----posed upon i sthat the recognition of the' latter body would inevitably result in ssctional disputes, and would also result in competition amongst the various branches as against the Department for concessions. It is oi'-fo. submitted t.liat. the formation of the i:.?w union would resrf.t in inconvenience to the Department, and would be detrimental to the public interests, and, further, that the existence of more than one society with which the Minister is entitled to make industrial agreements, and which is entitled to submit industrial disputes, oil behalf of railway servants, to the Arbitration Court, is entirely unnecessary. II: is claimed that the Aiiialcamated Society, which has a membership of ovar seven thousand, including a laree nymiber of eniino drivers, firemen, and cleaners, has always impartially represented to the Minister and to the Railway 'Department the.'lainis of all branches of t.he service, including thoso which, tho nrojectsil union is - intended to represent. Finally. the Amalgamated Society asks leave lo be represented beforo any committee to which the petition of the engine drivers, firsmeiv, and cleaners may be referred.