RAILWAY SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1937, Page 13

RAILWAY SERVICE

MEN'S COMPLAINTS

REPLY BY MANAGER

MINISTER'S PROMISE

A declaration that the statements published in Auckland suggesting causes of unrest among the railway employees had not been made with the authority of the men's responsible organisations was made by the General Manager of Railways (Mr. G. H. Mackley) today.

"There are three societies representing the second division of our staff," he said. . "They fully underst.andUhe position, and they have participated in discussions of a preliminary nature in accordance with an understanding mutually arrived at between them and the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) before the introduction of the 40-hour week. It was recognised by the organisations at that time that it would be reasonable to allow the question of anomalies to remain in abeyance in the meantime in view of the cost involved in the very substantial improvement in conditions and pay through the introduction of the shorter working week. It was also realised that this innovation itself would be likely to create* some anomalies. . . *>-

"That general understanding was formally confirmed by the Minister in communications addressed to the three organisations representing second division employees, and they agreed on the understanding that the anomalies would be reviewed some time subsequent to April 1 and before September next, which would be twelve months after the . introduction of the 40-hour week. . . CONTRARY TO FACT. "Carrying out this undertaking, the Minister of Railways arranged conferences of a preliminary nature between the management and the organisations. These conferences have been held and they will be continued. Thus it must be evident from actual happenings of recent date that the allegation of failure to honour a promise made in this connection is quite contrary to fact. The information which endeavours to support this incorrect statement is such that it obviously has no official origin from the service organisations, and whoever is responsible is not helping to make the conference effective from the men's point of view. Many of the points mentioned as contributing to a suggested feeling of unrest are substantially the very points that are being discussed." '~.•* Mr. Mackley expressed his satisfaction that the discussions so far have proceeded in the most* amicable manner. He had the assurances of the staff organisations concerned that they appreciated what has already been done for them by the .Government and the substantial financial commitments it has involved. ■. . The regrading of the first division, it was explained by the General Manager had been deferred under statutory authority during the economic depression but was at present being carried out in accordance with th? provisions of a later Statute.