RAILWAY STRIKE SEQUEL

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1929, Page 8

RAILWAY STRIKE SEQUEL

CONDITIONS RESTORED. EIGHT HOUR DAY AND HOLIDAYS. WELLINGTON, Nov. 19. The railway strike of 1924 is called to mind by important concessions just made by the Minister of Railways to the executive of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants on behalf of a number of men of' the second division of that service! When this organisation called out its members on a wages dispute the men were forced to return on conditions imposed by the then Minister of Railways, Mr Coates, who, while agreeing readily that there should be no victimisation and that superannuation rights were maintained, took up the position that existing agreements regarding working conditions were in the melting pot. As a consequence of the fresh arrangements the strikers lost several advantages in their working conditions, and for five years have; been endeavouring to restore their former position. Now they have succeeded in getting hack the eight-hour day in place of a tenhour shift with overtime at fate and a half.

The new arr'angoment, which operates from April 1 next, will enable overtime at rate and a quarter to be paid for work in excess of eight hours in any shift. The second concession recently arranged is that on five statutory holidays during the year, when the traffic and operating staffs are working at high pressure, they are to be paid double time and have a day added to their annual leave, which is usually taken in the off season of the year. This also operates from the end of tlie financial year.

These improvements bring railway working conditions nearly into due with those prevailing prior to 1924, but the former payment of night rates for tablet porters lias not keen restored, and the General Manager has informed the men’s executive definitely that he cannot concede this point. However, a special investigation of tablet porters’ duties throughout the Dominion lias been followed by improved schedules of work at over thirty stations, which will, to a great extent, meet the requests of these railway workers.

Railwavnien, in common with other public servants, recently pressed for reinstatement of the wage cuts imposed during the last retrenchment period, but they were unsuccessful. At the same time their executive was vigorously following up previous representations for improvement of conditions, and in an interview with the Minister of Rail ays, the Hon. AY. B.' Taverner, they were assured that lie was not in favour of making the men suffer to-day for things which happened years ago. He was net interested in the past, except so fains lie was able to remove some of the disabilities. He suggested a further round table discussion with the General Manager on the question of working conditions, and on receiving the report of this conference Mr Taverner granted the restoration of the eight-hour day and improved payment■ for work 011 statutory holidays.