THE RAILWAYMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10279, 14 May 1919, Page 6

THE RAILWAYMEN

CLAIMS IN ENGLAND COST OF DEMANDS AT LEAST £100,000,000. According to the London "Daily Mail" of recent date, the Board of Trade issued tho following statement as to the cost of the raihvaynien's demands in the Old Country:—

Before the war, tho railways employed about 620,000 men, of whom roughly 340,000 were concerned in the manipulation of traffic, the remaining 230,000 comprising the men employed in the engineering shops, docks, and the clerical and supervisory grades. The average pre-war earnings of raiiwaymen for 1913 were 28s 6d per week. To moot tho increased cos-d of lmng, war wage additions to permanent wages have been given on various occasions since February, 1915, totalling ,33s per | week, to nil men of 18 years oi age and over. . : In addition to the war wages, the principle of an eight-hour working day to all railwayman [concerned m the manipulation of traffic came into force on February Ist last. The increased cost of operating the railways due to the concession of war wages and the eight-hour days is estimated to amount to £75.000,000 per annum. To this must be added, P roundly, £25,000,000, representing .the inoreased cost of maThe programmes as now submitted by the two unions are as follow: 1. Eight-hour working day or a 48hour working week. This has already been conceded. - , 2. Wages—The National Union of Railway-men ask for all advances given as war wages to bo converted into permanent wages. The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen ask for ihe ' following standard rates to apply, regardless of work or location: ' Drivers and motormen, 20s a day. Firemen and electric trainmen, 15s a day. Oloaners and electric gatemen, 10a These rates to be subject to a further increase if the cost of living exceeds the cost in October, 1918. X Guaranteed day and guaranteed \. Overtime at increased rates for work done over eight hours and for all Sunday work and on Good Friday and Christmas Day. 5. Night duty—Extra- pay for all time worked between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

6. Piecework—Tonnage and bonus systems to be abolished. 7. Mileage system to be revised. 8. Eest—At least 12 hours' re«t between turns of duty. 9. Hybrid rates of pay upon all railways in ttte United Kingdom. 10. Standard rates of pay upon all railways in the United Kingdom. 11. Management! of Railways—That there be equal representation, both national and local, upon the management of railways in the Unfted Kingdom. 12. Holidays with pay—Fourteen days' holiday with pay. 13. Special duties to be limited. 14. Special rent allowances in the London area and other industrial centres.

J 5. Lodging allowances to bo increased. 16. Meal-times—A minimum of 30 minutes' relief for meals.

17. Mien incapacitated from working by ill-health and accidents. 18. Pensions after 35 years' servioe. 19. Additional allowances for clothlag. The estimated cost of these demands, If conceded to all grades, is at least £100,000,000 per annum.