THE RAILWAY MEN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 59, 27 July 1912, Page 4

THE RAILWAY MEN.

WHAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS GRANTED. By Telegraph—P*rliam»*tary Repo»te». I Wellington, Last Night. < A largo number of matters were brougiit hefore the railway authorities recently by tlie executive of the Amalmated Society of Railway Servants, and it is just announced in the official organ of that body that the following are some of the concessions made:—Members are to be supplied with particulars of complaints against them forwarded to district officers; gangers working ballast and work trains are to be treated the same as enginemen and guards; the percentage of gangers in sub-clause 11 is increased from 25 to 33, and one-third per cent. (this means an additional nine firstgrade gangers in every hundred); the avenue for promotion to car and waggon inspectors is to be open to all who possess the necessary qualifications. The general manager will carry, out the spirit of the society's desires when the Act is amended. Tradesmen apprentices' maximum will be increased to 10s a day. Mechanics' pay will he reviewed on the same occasion. Fortnightly pay is adopted except for the month of March. Carpenters will be granted 6'd per day ! extra when marking off new work in [sub-clause 2, when the Act is amended. i he will be paid at the shunter's rate for docked.

1 The reply indicates that if a cleaner neglects his work his services will be dispensed with. The grading of guards, i signalmen, storcmen and shunters separately will be gradually carried out. Skilled laborers acting as storemen will be paid the same as storemen in the traffic and locomotive departments. Men working ships' overtime will be paid at the same rate as wharf laborers. All guards and assistants are to be supnlied with one meal on the. dining car free. The pay of machinists will receive consideration when the Act is being amended. Apprentices will be allowed to qualify as first-class -tradesmen in any shop. Men brought on duty will be paid for two hours in all departments. Bits, chisels, and files are to be provided for carpenters. First-class passes are to be given to all employees having at least ten years' service, irrespective of grade. For horse drivers a uniform system of payment for preparing and bedding down horses throughout the Dominion will be adopted. A return will be obtained and preference given to the most liberal system existing. The leave rota in the traffic department is abolished. Men in charge of six men or over will be paid Od extra per day for such duties. This applies to the splitting'of large gangs. Since the request was made that men engaged as shunters be paid as such, the position in respect to shunters has been reviewed, and about seventy additional_ shunters have been appointed, ana shunting gangs have been strengthened wherever considered necessarv. Where a porter does four hours a day shunting h will be paid at the shunter.s rate for the time he works ns shunter.

The general manager said: "That is a fair thing to look into," when, in regard to the workshops branch, the general secretary (Mr. Mack) said that if the department adopted the principle of "no work, no pay," deducting the holiday time, surely wjien a man worked at night he should he paid extra. Wav and works men are to be allowed. to travel home by the first available train express or anything else. The question of "pay, wet or dry," must be deferred for fuller information. The deduction of 2s for sleeping accommodation provided by the department has been reduced to Is. Forfeiture of privileges as a punishment will not apply to privileges already earned at the time of tht offence. Gangers and surfacemen wilt be granted leave of absence one day per month, as a reasonable set-off against their half-holiday, and time for the walking of lengths, and gangs in large yards (where there i s no walking of lengths) will also secure the concession. The minimum wage for juniors, including cleaners, is to be 5s 6d per dav. This will be provided for in the aaitsinient to the Classification Act.