RAILWAYMEN'S PAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 117, 11 February 1919, Page 5

RAILWAYMEN'S PAY

•;' CONFERENCES WITH MINISTER • MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION This week the Minister of Railways will begin his conferences with "the representatives of the three railways soci'e- . ties regarding classification of the service, pay, aud working'conditions. The three societies are the Railway Officers' . Institute, comprising'men of the first division, of .the service, and the Amalgamated Society of Railway-Servants, comprising the bulk of the second division, and the -Engine-drivers, Firemen andCleaners' Association. 'Since the war began no increases in' pay have been given : to railwaymen as permanent additions to their salaries, except to such men as • ' have been fortunate "enough to get ad- • vancement in their grades in accordance • with classification. ■"• have not .'. been raised. The increases given to the ' service have been by way of bonus. -The conferences will endeavour to make "arrangements for the future pay of-the service. One of the biggest tasks to be done will be that of reclassifying fome of the positions for which the present pay is not considered to be adequate. There has been much .talk of the danger 'of a s'trikc by the enginetmen, but it is hoped that the conference; with the Minister will help to remove the grievances "Which the men undoubtedly do oherish. . ' .Under the law it is not possible for the Minister to say to the men.that-a de-" ' finite amount will p be granted to them in addition to. pay, or that certain concessions in working conditions will be given . ' "if. the giving of them will greatly in-. . crease .the cost of running the. service. The' Minister has to deal .with demands from all branches of the service for'in-; ■ creases, and- nfter he, has some idea'of. •what the cost of the increases.will be he' will have 1 to make recommendations to • Cabinet regarding the increases which in ■ his opinion ought to ■• be -granted, with the amount of money, that they will in'volve. 'If the Government-should support or modify■ his pronosals. he will be. in a. position to communicate the decisions of the Government to the societies, and 'when the House meets, it .will be asked to ■' . . ratify the promises made by the Minister. \ and the".Government. In practice it will '.probably happen that the /Minister will be able to. make some'promises'to the societies out of hand, for it is to be presumed that eome'of the matters tojw. discussed will have ■ received his consideration. The element of cost is an important one always in these negotiations. To' give to every man in theservice an increased a shilling a dav would cost ,£200,000, and if many shillings a ■day are to-be given the nublic may give up hope of being relieved of the ten per cent, war addition to freights and fares tor a long time to come.