RAILWAYMEN'S PAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 162, 3 April 1919, Page 6

RAILWAYMEN'S PAY

THE CONCESSIONS GIVEN, The negotiations which have been going on for some time betwesn the three railway societies and the management of the railways have not yet concluded. The general inannger will meet representatives of the Railway Officers' Institute to-day, and it is practically certain than an agreement will be reached without much difficulty. With regard lx> tho locomotive men, the position is less definite. Representatives of their society have met the management, but apparently they were not empowered to concludo an agreement, and the proposals of the Department will have to be referred to the members. If the members accept the offer of tho Department, the matter will be ended, but if they do not, other things mny happen. The threat which tho society has made for many months is that thero may be a strike, but tho risk of that is not considered to bo Gcrious.

Following arc the proposals of the Department for the Second Division oi tho service, which includes tho locomotive mon:—

The preseht rule by which fifty per cent, of (he guards and engine-drivers and firemen shall be first class, and the other fifty per cent, second class, remains but there is a variation affecting guards and engine-drivers. It is proposed that 25 per cent, of the 50 per cent, of the fiist class men shall be selected by merit by the Department. Specially selected guards in this list will receive 15s. a day, and engine-drivers 17s. a day. The ordinary pay for first class guards will be from 13s. Gd. to 14s. tirt. a day, and that-for second class , guards 12s. Gd. to 13s. a day. First grade shunters will receive from Us. to Us. Gd. a day. Junior porters ivill enter the service at the wage of 6s. Gd. per day, and rise by annual increments to 10s. a day at thu age of 21 years. Porters aged 22 years or over will receive 12s. per day. Leading litters will receive 17s. a day. ami junior tradesmen will receive 10s. a day. Cleaners will receive the same pay ;is junior porters. The most important concession is that of tho eight hours day. This has been given to all employees with the exception of the workshops men, who will have a 41 hours' week. Previously the train men have had to work a 48 hours' week, • and they have to give the time when demanded to give it. No allowance has been made for long days. Overtime has been payable only when more than 43 hours have been worked in any. week. The new proposal is that incn shall he entitled to overtime at the rate of time and a quarter after having worked the (lay of eight hours'. Time and a half is to be given for Sunday work, and double time for holidays, of which there are four namedChristmas .Day, Good Friday, the King's, Birthday, and Labour Day.

-Department does not concede tho demand for nreferende to unionists. Tho official statement is: "Tho Department cannot bu a party to coercing any member to join any of tho railway societies."

The demand for the removal of the division barrier, between the first and the second division is not conceded. The position remains as at present, which means that any member who can comply with the regulations can get promotioi from thb aecond to tho first division.

Tho abolition of the Minister's veto is , wot agreed to. The Department does not agree that apprentices may qualify in the Department's time. Generally the effect of the concessions made is that the war increases are being made permanent. The men will bo allowed to keep their three shillings a day war bonus.