e. g. FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 21/ 1959.
DEPUTATION ON WAGES CLAIMS
Statement by the Acting Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. J. M~ wn M. P.
The Acting Prime Minister Mr. McExwn, received a
deputation this morning from the Australian Council of Trade Unionsq
the High Council of Public Service Organisations, the Council of
Professional Associations and the Australian Council of Salaried
and Professional Associations.
The deputation urged three things:
First, that the Government should direct the Public
Service Board to negotiate with the Organisations with a view at
least to interim increases in remuneration pending the final
decisions by the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission on the
claims before it.
Second, that the Government should agree to any
decision by the Commission being given retro-active application.
Third, that the Government should restore the
independence that the Public Service Arbitrator possessed prior to
195~ 2. Mr. McEwen explained to the the deputation that their
first request touched a question of high policy which had been
considered by the Government on a number of occasions. The truth
was that the Commonwealth had responsibilities which went beyond
those of an ordinary employer concerned to do justice to his
employees. Of course, the Commonwealth wanted to see justice done
to its employees. However, decisions that thie Commonwealth took
had a far-reaching effect beyond its own employment. They bore
upon the State Public Services and private industry.
It was clear that whatever decisions were arrived at
by the Commission on the many and varied issues raised by the
claims before it, they could have a profound bearing on the future
standards of remuneration of professional and " white collar"
workers throughout Australia. Doubtless that was why the
organisations had elected to take their claims to the Full Commission.
Certainly the circumstances required that the decision
on these issues should be taken by the supreme Commonwealth
tribunal, and that they should not in any way be prejudged by
action by the Commonwealth.
Mr. McEwen pointed out that not dissimilar considerations
applied with respect to the margins claims for industrial
type employees. Mr. McEwen explained that nothing that he had said
derogated from the Government's concern to see conciliation
practised to the fuill. The Public Service Board had, in fact,
often engaged in conciliation.
Mr. McEwen was gratified to find that no one was
alleging that such delays as had occurred in the hearing of the
current cases could be ascribed to action on the part of the
Commonwealth. He said the Government wanted the-. current . cases-to-.-.
go ahead with the greatest expedition.."
In reply -to suggestions that perhaps the Commission
might be disposed to make an interim Award, Mr. McEwen said that
if such an application were made to the Commission the Commonwealth
would not automatically oppose it. It would carefully
weigh the substance of the application and the whole of the
circumstances and advance a responsible attitude to it.
" 4
As to retro-activity, Mr. McEwen said he was aware
there had been occasions when there had been agreement to backdating
the application of an Award. If an application for retroactivity
were made to the tribunal the Commonwealth would
determine its attitude in the light of all relevant circumstances,
Finally, Mr. McEwen observed that the decision taken
by the Government in 1952 to provide for references and appeals
to the Commission from the Public Service Arbitrator was a
deliberate act of its policy in the field of industrial relations,
MELBOURNE, 18th June, 1959.