DECISION RESERVED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26641, 11 December 1947, Page 8

DECISION RESERVED

WAGES AND OVERTIME CLAIMS BY AIR-CREW RADIO OPERATORS p.A. AUCKLAND, Dec. 10. • Decision on the basic rates of pay, overtime payment for work in excess of eight hours’ flying time in a day, and claims for transoceanic and overseas allowances was reserved by Judge Dalglish, chairman of the tribunal appointed to consider the dispute be- 1 tween the National Airways Corporation, Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd., and their radio officers when the tribunal ended its sittings in Auckland to-day. When the tribunal first met on Tuesday the chairman stated that he hoped to give an immediate decision after the hearing ended. After the luncheon adjournment to-day, however, Judge. Dalglish said be would have to take time to consider his decision owing to the repercussions it would have on other air employees. During the hearing on the wages claims, Mr T. A. Barron, an employers’ nominee on the tribunal, stated that the present yearly rates of pay for Tasman Airways air crews were: Captains, £llOO rising to £i1375; first officers, £750 to £975; flight engineers. £SOO to £700; radio operators, £432 to £576; stewards, £442 to £518; stewardesses, £325 to £377. The company was offering increases to its radio operators which would make the range of pay £525 to £775.- . Mr, J. H. Collins, for the employees, said the union was prepared to accept as basic rates of pay the sums quoted by Sir Leonard Isitt in a press_ statement issued on Saturday. Additional allowances for transoceanic flying and for overseas expenses were also claimed. He quoted allowances paid by various overseas air companies and said they amounted in one case to sums ranging from £l5O to £2OO «a year. _ “ Tasman Airways holds its radio officers in the highest esteem,” said Mr Barron during the hearing, “and nothing which has recently happened has in any way altered that attitude.” A union submission that the tribunal decision should apply to the chief radio engineer was rejected by the chairman, who stated that the duties appeared to belong more to an engineering than to a radio branch. The hearing ended with references to the cordial spirit of the proceedings and tributes to the chairman. Mr Barron said it had been a pleasure to experience such amicable meetings. Supporting Mr Barron, Mr Collins said that relations round the table had been such that it might have seemed that there was no dispute. It would be of great advantage if all disputes coqld be settled in the same way. A draft statement setting out the matters on which agreement has already been reached was considered yesterday by the tribunal, and the formal wording of a number of clauses was decided. The clauses included routine definitions and agreements on hours of work, classification and promotion, accommodation, disputes, sickness and holidays. The tribunal’s decision is to operate from January 1, 1948, until June 30, 1949, with a provision that the wages clauses are to apply to Tasman Airways employees from April 1, 1947, and to the corporation employees from November 1, 1947. ' "