asked the Minister for Transport and Power if, in view of the fact that the 17,000 wage earners of CIE, except for bus drivers and conductors, have not received any increase beyond the ninth round 12 per cent increase, he will explain his statement at a recent press conference that employees of CIE as a whole received increases of 18 per cent; whether increases of 18 to 23 per cent were granted to the 3,000 salary earners in CIE; and whether he is aware of the deep concern caused to the wage earners involved that a public impression should be created that they had shared in the 18 per cent increase mentioned by him.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - CIE Wage Rates.
8.
The statement in question was that "the CIE staff as a whole had had an increase of 18 per cent in wages and fringe benefits since and including the ninth round". The percentage increase figure is an average for the staff as a whole and is related to additional annual costs amounting to £1,634,000 for the 12 per cent all round increase given under the ninth round and £900,000 for subsequent increases and fringe benefits.
I am informed by CIE that the £900,000 a year which includes an 8 per cent increase for 2,500 clerical and related grades is made up as follows—
|
(1) Sickness Benefit Payments, Wages Grade Staff |
£70,000 |
|
(2) Improvements in Pensions, Wages Grade Staff |
£121,000 |
|
(3) Enhanced payments for week-end working, Road Passenger Operative Staff |
£102,000 |
|
(4) Enhanced payments for week-end working, extended to Road Passenger Inspectors, Rail Operative Staff, Rail Operative Supervisors, Garage Labouring Staff and Sundry Grades |
£53,500 |
|
(5) Meal and Lodging allowances, Road Passenger and Rail Operative Grades |
£33,000 |
|
(6) Salary award to clerical staff and related grades |
£191,000 |
|
(7) Salary award to certain Supervisors |
£30,000 |
|
(8) Increased differentials for higher capacity buses, Road Passenger Staff |
£14,000 |
|
(9) Night and shift duty payments, Garage Labouring Staff |
£8,000 |
|
(10) Reduction in working week, building trade staff |
£16,000 |
|
(11) Increased overtime payments, mechanics |
£5,000 |
|
(12) Increase of 12/6d. per week to Road Passenger drivers and conductors |
£184,000 |
|
(13) Reduction in hours, Road Freight Staff, Dublin City |
£23,000 |
|
(14) Sundry increases |
£49,500 |
|
£900,000 |
Roughly one-third of the £900,000 is related directly to bus drivers and conductors, and the remaining £600,000 is related partly to all grades and partly to individual grades other than bus drivers and conductors. I am advised by CIE that practically all their wage grade employees have benefited in some measure from the foregoing increases.
Despite that long and laborious list, read out for a purpose by the Minister for Industry and Commerce on behalf of the Minister for Transport and Power, without responsibility, does the Minister not consider it very unfair of the Minister for Transport and Power, without responsibility, to make the statement that the employees of CIE as a whole received an increase of 18 per cent when, in fact, as even that list which has just been read out makes clear, the amount of the increase for the bulk of the employees in CIE was 12 per cent? Is it not unfair to the men and incorrect? Does it not create a wrong public impression about these workers?
I think one could not be fairer than to have it given by the Minister in this breakdown fashion.
He said that, as a whole, they got 18 per cent.
The staff as a whole got 18 per cent and fringe benefits.
Payment for work on a Sunday does not come under the heading of fringe benefit.
It is additional payment. It costs money.
Surely such items should be extracted from such a report?
It is very unfortunate to have to answer for the Minister for Transport and Power, without responsibility.