28. Mrs. WARDasked the Postmaster-General the standard rate of pay of postal workers; whether any sections and, if so, how many receive less than 35s. per week; and whether their duties are the same as those who are receiving the standard rate?
§ Sir E. BENNETTThe Post Office staff is divided into a large number of classes according to the work on which it is engaged, and for each class a scale of 21 pay is prescribed which generally provides for annual increments extending over a number of years. The scales in many cases provide for commencing pay below 35s. a week, but, except in the case of juveniles, the pay is soon brought above this point by the operation of the incremental system. The total number of full-time employés 21 years of age or over who are in receipt of less than 35s. a week is about 800. These are practically all postmen 21 or 22 years of age in some smaller provincial centres.
Mrs. WARDIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there are many men getting less than 35s. a week, and may we have an indication of when the position of these workers will be improved?
§ Sir E. BENNETTIs my hon. Friend referring to those on the establishment or to those in auxiliary posts? If she is referring to auxiliary postmen, of course there are a great many—some 12,000—receiving under 35s. a week, but we never pretend that the wages paid to the auxiliary workers are full-time wages, and our policy is to find men for these posts who are already in receipt of money from some other sources of income, such as their pensions as ex-soldiers.
§ Sir J. NALLWill the hon. Gentleman undertake to see that, whether they are established or not, these adult male workers are paid wages at rates comparable with those in other occupations in the urban areas?
§ Sir E. BENNETTThe auxiliary postmen are paid according to the scale settled by the Industrial Court.
§ Mr. T. SMITHCan the hon. Gentleman say what the Department are doing to improve the position of these men, many of whom are suffering hardship, as has been brought out many times in debate in this House?
§ Sir E. BENNETTWe are doing our best to assist them by awarding a certain number of full-time posts to auxiliary postmen. Still, at best it is an unpleasant situation, which we have tried to get rid of, but at the moment we do not see our way to sweep away this body of 12,000 men who are, I think, receiving adequate pay for the work that they do in what is not a full-time job.
§ Mr. MORGAN JONESMay I ask how many increments these men must receive 22 before they reach the 35s. a week standard?
§ Sir E. BENNETTIn the case of juveniles, four to five years. In the case of those who join at 20 one or two years.