WATERFRONT HOURS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28554, 7 April 1958, Page 10

WATERFRONT HOURS

Workers Seek Change A radical alteration in the present distribution of working hours at the Port of Lyttelton is under negotiation. Preliminary steps were taken at a conference in Christchurch last week when waterside workers' representatives met shipping com’pany officers and other interested f parties including the Lyttelton Harbour Board, the Railways Department and the Waterfront In- . dustry Commission. The present week-day working . hours a: e 8 a~m. to 9 pan. with breaks between noon and 1 pan. and 5 pan. and 6 pan. The proposed new hours of work would be spread between 7 a_m. and 6 pan. A system similar to this has been operating at i Bluff for about a year. The proposal was initiated by 1 the w*atersiders themselves and jit is expected that it will meet !; with favourable consideration from the Waterfront Employers’ ■ Association.

Long Working Day The move was prompted by a ‘ large proportion of the waterSsiders who live in Christchurch and for whom a working day means leaving home at 7 o’clock or before in the morning and getting back at 10 pm. each evenling. That is for five days a week and does not take into account four hours’ work on Saturday moming and extended hours for late departures or special cargoes. Tbe proposal wnll not become effective merely by announcing the new hours. The Harbour’ Board's ability and desire to handle vessels and cranes and to bring on employees earlier in the morning, the feelings of the many railway workers on the wharves and the attitude of the Railways, Department towards earlier work-' ers* trains have all to be considered. Na CaaMßent Persons connected with the present negotiations have been told not to discuss the matter with newspapers and last evening leading officials of the waterside workers’ union, the Lyttelton employers and the Harbour Board ’all refused to comment when, approached for statements. • The chairman of the employers’ association (Mr R. L. Reid) said: “There is nothing I can tell you about it. The. watersiders have ’made application for a change in and it is now being -. The president of the Waterside (Workers’ Union 'Mr E. L. Threadswell* said: “I am sorry. There - has been one conference in Christchurch. It was decided that [the press would not be invited. ‘ln the meantime. I cannot tell you! anything. I would like to but’ rmy hands are tied.” “We are only indirectly con- ■ cemed. The principals are the watersiders and the employers.” I the secretary of the Lyttelton fHarbour Board 'Mr A. L. Burk* ‘said.