§ 40. Mr. GOULDINGasked the Postmaster-General whether the outdoor and the indoor staff of the postal employés at Gloucester have recently been raised to Class 2 B; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that at Worcester, a city of about equal population, and where the cost of living is the same, the employés do similar work, he will raise the Worcester office to the same class?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Captain Norton)Gloucester was raised to Class 2 B as from the 1st January, 1913, because the number of units of post office work then reached 950. The number of units at Worcester, according to the latest available returns, is 528, 187 and a higher classification is not warranted according to the standard of classification in force. The classification is not based on population and the cost of living; but, primarily, on the amount of work modified in accordance with the cost of living.
§ Mr. GOULDINGIs not the work done by the officials in either case practically the same?
§ Captain NORTONI scarcely think that can be so, inasmuch as units of work in one place are close upon double the number of units in the other, and the amount of work is arranged by units. Unit is an arbitrary measure taken in order to measure the amount of work done in each office.
§ Mr. GOULDINGIf the number of units increase does it not naturally follow that the number of employés are increased to meet that work?
§ Captain NORTONIt also means the work is more complex.
Sir GILBERT PARKERMay I ask if the Government has any intention of reconsidering the basis of classification of the units system which is now in existence?
§ Captain NORTONI should like to have notice of that.
§ Mr. GOULDINGMay I ask the hon. Gentleman, in view of the very grave dissatisfaction amongst the employés both in regard to classification and employment, to use his endeavours with the Prime Minister to give a day for the discussion of the grievances of those deserving employés?
§ Captain NORTONI will ask my right hon. Friend to consider that.