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Workers—and Railways—Call for

13th November 1936
Page 91
Page 91, 13th November 1936 — Workers—and Railways—Call for
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Labor

Stabilized Wages

PPOINTED by the Ministers of Labour and Transport, the COM■ mittee of inquiry into wages and conditions of service in the road-transport industry resumed its sittings on Monday and Tuesday of this week. On Monday, evidence was heard from the unions and the employers' panel of the Northern Joint Conciliatiorr Board.

The unions referred to a defiant attitude on the part of employers. The Northern Area operators alleged that the National Board had acted in a dictatorial niamier.

The railways and the National Union of Railwaymen gave evidence on Tuesday.

The men's organizations which made representations on Monday were the Transport and General Workers Union, National Union of General and Municipal Workers, Liverpool and District Carters arid Motormen's Union, and the United Road Transport Workers Association.

A memorandum submitted to the committee by these unions stated that the deliberate defiance of Parliament by the employers, which had been repeated in connection with the observance of fair wages and conditions, presented a menace to the well-being of the community.

The National Joint Conciliation Board had already submitted evidence of cases where, by employers' instructions, men were forced to break the law. There had been hundreds of prosecutions of men working longer than the permitted hours. It had been obvious that in many cases the men were compelled to do this or lose their employment.

Removing Unfair Competition.

The National Board, in coming to its decision that wages should be based on a 48-hour week, was following the policy that had been generally adopted in the industry, which provided the only fair means upon which wages could be based. Further, it removed the element of unfair competition, which had been such a prominent complaint of the employers. If a " trip " system of paying wages, or an all-in wage scheme were adopted, it was obvious that no two systems of payment would be alike, if the employers were left to make their own arrangements.

The agreement of the National Board provided for an accumulative week. This gave a freedom for the road-transport industry that was not enjoyed by any other industry.

The unions desired to avoid the practices in the industry which had induced speeding. Where the trip ystem had been adopted, and a payment had been allotted for the 'journey, the man had been, in many cases, expected to run to a timetable, with the result that if he had been delayed, he had been ex pected to exceed the speed limit in order to complete the journey in time. The lo wages which were operating in the ndustry were morally wrong, and con tituted a public danger.

Mr. j. E. Corrin (Transport and General Workers Union), who pre sented the unions' case, said in reply to Sir Gerald Bellhouse (a member of the committee) that there had been a considerable improvement in wages and conditions since the National Board was established—clue to an impression that the rates decided upon by the Board had statutory force behind them.

Earlier, Mr. Corrin had admitted, in reply to the chairman (Sir John Baillie), that only between 40 and 50 per cent, of the road-transport workers were in the unions.

The chairman: " What is the attitude of the workers not represented in the unions? "

Mr. Corrin said that these workers, he believed, would welcome some step which would enable them to claim the wages and conditions laid down by the National Board.

Why Not Join a Union?

The chairman: "Have you any idea why those not in the unions are standing out? '' Mr. Corrin:" Largely because of the action of the employers towards them, and deliberate intimidation."

A. memorandum of evidence was also submitted on behalf of the employers' side of the Northern Area Board. In this it was stated that the dissatisfaction which had arisen as to the constitution and procedure of the National Board had been created by that Board taking a mistaken view as to its position and powers under existing legislation. It had adopted what was felt to be a dictatorial attitude.

The Board should concentrate on arriving at rates for each area, which the good employers in that area could afford to pay, and would be willing to assist in enforcing.

At Tuesday's hearing the railway companies were represented by Sir James Milne, general manager of the

Lengthy Evidence at Twoday Sitting of Government Committee of Inquiry. Railway General Manager and Road transport G.W. Railway, and Mr. Kenelm Kerr, assistant general manager of the L.N.E. Railway. The National Union of Railwaymen was .represented by Mr. J. Marchbank, general secretary, Mr. H. Gilchrist and Mr. J. W. Peerins.

In a memorandum of evidence, the four railways stated that the road-transport departments of the railway companies, with their associated concerns, were the largest road-transport undertakings in the country.

The Rail View.

" It is the considered view of the railway Companies . . that it is in the public interest and in the interest of the road-transport industry that the remuneration of the employees and their. conditions 'Of service should be effectively controlled by dome appropriate Machinery of negotiatien," stated the rail memorandum. • •

'In reply to the chairman (Sir James Baiffie); Sir James Milne said he thought "it' • 'Would be better for a na'ional beard to decide on the general basis of wages.

The chairman: "Would you suggest that it would be in the national interest to have' a national systein of tiansport ccirrespoinling.to the amalgamated system of the railways? "

-Sit James: -" That is a difficult question•to answer."


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