Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Postmaster-General whether, in coming to his decision not to allow the telephone staff of the Glasgow Corporation to participate in the special arrangements proposed to be granted, in connection with the Telephone Transfer Bill, to the ex-employés of the National Telephone Company, he has taken into consideration the fact that a considerable number of the Glasgow Corporation telephone staff had previously been in the employment of the National Telephone Company?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have not overlooked the point mentioned by the hon. Member. The service of the officers in question was terminated by their own voluntary action, and cannot, therefore, under the general practice of the Civil Service, be taken into account for pension purposes.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTalso asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that six telephone operators formerly on the staff of the Glasgow Corporation telephone department, now taken over by the Post Office, remain unestablished as a result of failure to pass the medical examination from which it is proposed to exempt ex-employés of the National Telephone Company on its undertaking being taken over by the Post Office; whether these operators in consequence suffer, and will continue to suffer, all the disabilities attendant on unestablished service, namely, loss of pension rights, shorter holidays, and sick leave, no prospect of promotion, biennial instead of annual increments, and smaller maximum salary; whether these operators had a good record of attendance in the corporation service, practically free from sick absence; and whether he will reconsider their case in view of the concessions which he is now proposing to give to ex-employés of the National Telephone Company?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe facts are substantially as stated. I regret that I cannot regard the concessions made to officers about to be transferred from the National Telephone Company as Justifying the establishment of officers definitely certified to be disqualified on medical grounds.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked whether ex-members of the Glasgow Corporation local telephone staff now in his employ, in whose case the qualifying period of 10 years' service under the Crown for pension rights has not been waived, and who, therefore, cannot qualify for pensions until 1st June, 1916, are in a better position than the staff of the National Telephone Company who enter the service of the State five years after them, but in whose case the qualifying period of 10 years' service with the Crown has been waived, and who, if they have served for 10 years with the company, will at once be eligible for pensions?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIn this particular matter, the position of the staff transferred from the Glasgow Corporation is not so good as that which will be enjoyed by the staff of the National Telephone Company; but in the more important matter of the years of service to be included for the purpose of calculating the amount of pension or gratuity the ex-corporation staff will benefit substantially from their earlier transfer to the Post Office.
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIn one particular their position has not been so advantageous as that of the other staff transferred.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTWill the right hon. Gentleman consider whether he can do anything to obviate this disability which is being now imposed on these people when they have served for five years without any fault of their own?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo disability is now being imposed on them, but other people are being brought in on somewhat better terms. On the whole, the position of the Glasgow Telephone employés, transferred to the Post Office is better than that of the National Telephone Company's employés?
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTfurther asked whether in the present Post Office, late Corporation, telephone service in Glasgow the seniority list is based on wage amounts without reference to length of service; whether one of the concessions proposed to be granted to ex-employés of the National Telephone Company on its undertaking being transferred to the Post Office is that service with the company will count for seniority; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent anomalies from arising owing to this double standard for seniority?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe facts are as stated. The avoidance of anomalies will be a matter of difficulty, and I am not prepared at present to indicate by what measures justice can be done to the various conflicting claims.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTDoes the right hon. Gentleman regard the matter as closed or is he considering it?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo, Sir, this question of seniority can only be dealt with when the National Telephone Company's employés are in the service of the State.