RAILWAY BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1931, Page 8

RAILWAY BOARD

STAFF ECONOMIES. RETRENCHMENT LIKELY. Economies affecting stalls in the railway service are under consideration by the Railways Board, and although it is denied That wholesale dismissals 'are contemplated, . the proposals a Ire .ay placed before the employees representatives indicate-: that retrenchment on some scaye js-yahnost inevitable. Ihe general manager of railways, Air M. M. Ster!*ng, has discussed the proposals with respresentative s of the staffs, and lias invited'any practicable suggestions for easing the situation with a minimum of hardship.

The economies proposed by the Rail ways Board are as follows: —

>A certain number of permanent employees of over 30 years’ service will be retired under section 14 of the Finn me Act, 1931. yi ■; . ■ • Where there is a surplus of permanent men in any of .the workshops for whom work cannot b'e found on the spot, a certain number of men may be transferred to, other workshops. 'I lie men, so transferred will be unmarried men. Casuals may be paid off to make room f,or them.

Transfers from shop To shop will he made as an emergency step only, and will be kept down to an absolute mini-

Tt is not intended to transfer married men but it may occur that there is a surplus of married men in some erafit, necessitating reductions in the numbers in that craft. Preference wil bo giv< n to them in any other trades where, they can be suitably empdved. For instance, if a permanent b'acksmitli is not required, but there is a casual striker employed, the permanent blacksmith, will lie given preference, for the position of striker. Permanent will be given preference for retention in the seiviie over all casuals, but I heir standard of work will have to meet the requirements of the < eoa rtmeii t, othdiwiso they will he liable to be paid off for inefficiency.

The meal allowance will no longer be, considered a time allowance, but wlru'e an employee is cm duty continuum-h for eleven hours or more, and pun liases a meal lie will receive the al'owance for the meal.

So far as departmental holidays arc concerned, special rates oi pay, with a day added to the annual leave, will b“ abolished, and sing'e raf.es*ol pay, wit 1 ' a day added to the annual leave will be substitut'd.

Wage emoloyees of the ‘-feres bran'-h are to have their liours reduced from 'lB to 44 per week. This brings t'ese employees into line with the workshops employees, with whom the stores employees work in close proximity. The payment of rate and a quartet to engine cleaners for work done at night is being discontinued. In fut-re cleaners wid be paid the ordinary rate o,i l l v for such work.

"+ing of overtime relief to members of the,salaries staff for horns worked in excess of 48 in each week is also being discontinued, and the arrangement previously in force of er ntiiuz .some measure of relief to members of the salaried ..staff only where there is a. -long spread of hours and) the work is intensive is boine reintroduced. A reduction is also being made in the time allowance granted to guards in connection with correspondence. •