Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 2 (June 1, 1927)

Canadian National Railways Bonus System Abolished

Canadian National Railways Bonus System Abolished.

The abolition by the Canadian National Railways of their bonus system for securing “payment by results” in workshops has caused some question to be raised regarding the advisability of the suggested introduction of the system on our own Railways.

On the matter being referred to Mr. E. T. Spidy, Superintendent of Workshops, he commented as follows:—

The pros and cons of Premium Bonus are certainly being discussed these days. This is all I have to say about the Canadian National Railway decision. I know many of their officers and I have a great deal of respect for their judgment, so much so that I do not for a minute think that this is a one-sided arrangement.

The last issue of the Canadian National Railways Magazine tells us that Premium has been abandoned on their road and an allround increase given to those losing the bonus. While what a single railroad does is not of tremendous importance, in this instance it is a distinct win for co-operative shop committee methods. The railways in Canada, including some shops that are now Canadian National Shops, have had “payment by results” systems for many years—since seventeen years ago anyway to my personal knowledge.

Christchurch Railway Station, Forty Years ago.

Christchurch Railway Station, Forty Years ago.

During that time, they certainly learnt the value of work and the ratio between “day rate work” and “payment by results” methods.

The Canadian report states “The operation of the co-operation plan has now reached such a stage that the bonus system has ceased to be either advantageous or attractive… and an appropriate bonus in addition to the hourly rate, will be paid, as a recognition of their co-operative effort.”

What can be understood from this?—Except that,

1. The railway will pay the bonus to the men just the same, but it will now be an aggregate payment.

2. The co-operative committee plan has proven so successful that the men are going to maintain the same rate of working, without the overhead expense of running a bonus system.

The Canadian National Railways are to be congratulated on having such a successful co-operative system of committees. The spirit of “Getting together” is very evidently at work, and it is to be hoped the future will prove that the confidence the Railway has shown in its employees is well founded.

page 45