The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Thursday, August 31, 1967 — The Almagated Engineering Union yesterday defended the personnel section of Rhodesia Railways against an attack by the Minister of Transport, Brigadier Dunlop.

“It was a surprising attack”, said Mr AG Coppard, national organising secretary of the AEU. “We would be alarmed at any suggestion that the personnel division may be removed.”

He said the disappearance of the personnel section would put industrial relations on the railways about four or five years.

Mr Coppard added: “We cannot over emphasise the importance of the personnel division. Faced with many problems beyond their control, including the breakup of the unitary system, the personnel people have done extremely well”.

Brigadier Dunlop told parliament on Tuesday that the personnel section “stands out like a sore thumb and it will be looked at with great care”.

He announced that the administration and staffing position of Rhodesia Railways was being looked into by a well-known firm of South Africa consultants with a view to reforms.

Meanwhile, interim measures would be taken and put into motion within the next fortnight. During the debate Mr D Fawcett Phillips (RF Hillside) said the personnel section proved Parkinson’s Law and put Frankestein to shame.

He said the personnel section cost £150 000 a year in salaries.

It seemed to do a little more than decide who was being paid too much and who was being paid too little.

Mr Coppard said the personnel section had trained specialist.

The AEU found the Railways were doing what any enlightened industry was doing.