The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Wednesday, April 26, 1967 — The Rhodesia Railways Workers’ Union may cease to represent railwaymen working in Zambia, some time after the planned dissolution of the unitary system at the end of June. This was said yesterday by Mr A C Hodge, RRWU president, when he addressed the annual meeting of his executive committee and national councillors in Bulawayo.

Mr Hodge also referred to current problems of railwaymen in Zambia. Some, who had not yet decided whether to stay in Zambia after the break-up, had caused “concern” to men in Rhodesia and Botswana, who felt that they were “fence-sitters.”

Actions by the Zambian Government had proved that the NIC was ignored there and new grades had been introduced without reference to the NIC.

Powers given to Mr F Luccarotti, Zambia railway administrator, overruled existing agreements.

Mr Hodge said the Zambian region had not operated on the same footing as other regions for some time. This was emphasised when top railway officials were instructed to leave Zambia.

Mr Hodge’s call for labour legislation to be amended to cover present circumstances was answered briefly by the Minister of Labour, Mr I McLean, who said draft legislation arising from the dissolution would be put before unions and management for their comments, before it was referred to Parliament.

Mr Hodge regretted the break-up of the unitary system and paid tribute to management, employees and unions for “remarkable feats” in dealing with the human problems.

“The upheaval of moving some 450 men and their families hundreds of miles from one country to another was only the first part of the phasing out programme.”

The RRWU president said the conference, which continues until Friday, will formulate policy regarding railwaymen who remain in Zambia after the dissolution and decide whether the RRWU should continue to represent them.

In reference to the union, he said: “I am convinced that the break is certain. It could be that I am here making history as the last union president to address councillors from all three territories.”