STRAINED RELATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26641, 11 December 1947, Page 6

STRAINED RELATIONS

PUBLIC SERVANTS AND COMMISSION DISSATISFACTION OVER PAY Special Correspondent WELLINGTON, Dec. 10. Having failed to secure satisfaction from the Public Service Commission on overtime pay or on the establishment of a committee to review salaries, officials of public service organisations have decided to approach the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser. Relations between the commission and the Public Service Association have been under a severe strain over these two issues in recent months. Protests within the service have now been brought ta a head. ' The official journal of the association issued to-night, discussing overtime claims made by the association and the application of the Factories Act to the civil service, says: “The commission no doubt feels that it is doing its duty by postponing the inevitable settlement of this grievance for as long as possible and thus saving money for the Government. It has, we think, overlooked its clear obligation to ensure that its staff is paid on a basis comparable with the rates paid to people in corresponding classes of private employment. The manner in which the question of overtime and penal rates is being shelved by the commission is trying the patience cd public servants to the utmost.” The combined State Services Organisation has met the Public Service Commission on the setting-up of a proposed committee to review salaries, but has achieved no satisfaction and will go to the Prime Minister with the request that a properly representative committee should be established.