asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he is aware that workers employed on the automatic telephone cable extension in Passage West, Cork, are graded as working in a rural area and have been refused an increase in pay, although this area is a suburb of Cork City; and, if so, whether he will take steps to have these men's wages increased from £4 8s. weekly to the city rate of £6 5s.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Passage West Telephone Workers' Wages.
Mr. O'Higgins
The workers in question are casual unskilled labourers employed by the engineering branch. Their rate of wages is £4 12s. a week (not £4 8s. a week as stated in the question). This is the same as that payable to road workers employed by the Cork County Council. It is on a par with the rates paid by county councils throughout the State for road work. As Passage West is outside the area of the Cork County Borough, the city rate of £6 5s. a week does not apply.
Is the Minister aware that this particular area is also outside the county council area in so far as the work is proceeding now within the township of Passage West under the town commissionership? Is the Minister prepared to allow the same rate for work as applies in the case of rural electrification for the same type of work?
The standard that is taken is the standard of comparable work. We regard comparable work to be that done by the Cork County Council. The Department has not tried to take unfair advantage in regard to making comparisons with work done by county councils or urban councils in particular areas and I am advised that the rate that has been struck for this work is entirely fair and consistent with the general regulations of the Department. We do not take the wage rates prescribed by the E.S.B. or other similar bodies. The Cork County Council rate is taken for the purpose of comparison.
In view of the fact that work is now proceeding within the area under the town commissionership of Passage, not in the county, will the Minister have this aspect reconsidered?
If it is customary in the Department to make any alteration or modification in wage rates because of some particular rate paid within a town commissionership, we will have the matter examined but, as I understand, there is no exception made in this case.