OVERSEAS SERVICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26638, 8 December 1947, Page 6

OVERSEAS SERVICES

NATIONAL AIRWAYS . \ RESUMPTION TO-DAY TRIBUNAL TO HEAR DISPUTE P.A. AUCKLAND, Dec. 7. The overseas air services operated by Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd., and the National Airways Corporation will resume to-morrow following an agreement reached to-day that the dispute involving the aircrew radio operators would be considered by a tribunal appointed by the Minister of Labour, Mr McLagan, under the strikes and lockouts emergency regulations. No Tasman flights have taken place since Thursday, and the radio operators’ strike, which was announced late on Thursday night, has also resulted in the suspension of the corporation’s service to Suva. The corporation's weekly service to Norfolk Island, however, was maintained to-day under an amended time schedule. The aircraft which normally leaves Whenuapai at 8 a.m. and returns by 6 p.m. departed shortly after. 4 p.m. It was to make a night flight back to Auckland, and is expected to arrive about 1 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr G! N. Roberts, general manager of Tasman Empire Airways, announced the result of a meeting between the management of the company and the union’s agent, Mr J. H. Collins. It was then agreed that radio officers would man the company’s aircraft tomorrow upon the understanding that both the company and the radio officers would abide by the decision of the tribunal, which would consider the dispute on December 10. “ Two flying boats will leave Mechanics’ Bay for Sydney to-morrow morning,” Mr Roberts said. The first is expected to depart at 8 a.m.. and the second at 8.30 a.m. The National Airways Corporation’s overseas services will also resume to-day. Sections 'of the company’s staff remained on duty throughout the week-end. All the employees have been standing by since last Thursday awaiting news of the resumption of the service.” The directors of Tasman Empire Airways conferred with Mr Collins on Friday, and after a board' meeting which lasted until 10 p.m., they made an offer by letter to the union. No reply was received from the union on Friday night, but on Saturday Mr Collins advised the board that, after careful consideration, it had been decided that the terms it had proposed were unacceptable to the union. An - earlier report stated that the board’s >offer to Mr Collins was considered by members of the board to be in most generous terms. The payment offered to a senior radio officer was £7OO a year, rising to £BOO. For radio officers, first, class, the offer was of £650, rising to £750. Radio officers, second class, were offered £350, rising to £650. There also was a certificate pay of £3O per annum to personnel with special added, qualifications. The offer involved a salary increase to ,a senior radio officer of £175, and to the others the increases rhnged from £95 to £195. There was also an offer of retrospective pay and of double normal rates for overtime. There was a provision for additional matters to be submitted to arbitration.