Watersiders Seek Shorter Hours

Press, Volume C, Issue 29695, 13 December 1961, Page 19

Watersiders Seek Shorter Hours

A reduction in the hours worked at the Lyttelton waterfront, from the present 8 a m. to 9 p.m. to 7 am. to 6 p.m., would help to build a stable and efficient labour force with improved industrial .-elations between employers and union members, said the assistant secretary of the Lyttelton Waterfront Employees’ Industrial Union of Workers (Mr R. Fergus) at a sitting of the Waterfront Industry Tribunal yesterday. The union applied to the tribunal to amend the present order which fixed the hours of work from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. to allow a working day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The application was opposed by the New Zealand Port Employers’ Association (Mr V. P Blakeley) and the Lyttelton branch of the New Zealand Harbour Boards’ Industrial Union of Workers (Mr J B Gilder). The tribunal, which comprised Judge Archer (chairman), and Messrs W Cuthbert and W E Hodges, reserves its decision on the application. Mr Fergus said that the increased tonnage handled at Lyttelton meant that in the busy periods workers were often employed continuously from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and occasionally to 10 pm. “This continuity of long hours has posed many problems for the union administration and we believe the rearrangement of hours would solve this problem.” he said The union strength was about 730. of which twothirds were from Christchurch or suburban areas Therefore, the watersider was away from his home and family at least 15 hours a day. This span of hours was one of the reasons why men were leaving the industry Mr Fergus said that by working the shorter hours the men would be home at least three hours earlier at night The shorter day would also mean a genera! improvement in workers’ health which would be reflected in the quality of work done “All we require from the tribunal is for a trial period to be granted to prove the submissions correct.” he said Oonosing the application. Mr Blakeley said there were local considerations which would -ender the operation of the shorter hours sought impractical at Lyttelton. The arrival of the steamer express and the precautions needed to safeguard the passenger train would make it difficult and expensive to have cargo alongside for the earner part “The labour force is dispersed over a wide area and it is doubtful if all union members could be available to start work at 7 a m everv dav ” he said. Mr Gilders, opposing the application, sold that if the earlier hours were agreed upon crane drivers would

have to start at least at 6 a.m. to have the cranes in position. Then the tugs, which now began to get steam up about 4 a.m. to berth ships ready for unloading at 8 ain., would have to begin firing at 3 a.m. Crane drivers and the men working on the tugs could be required to work in the evenings under the terms of their award, said Mr Gilder. If the watersiders were given an earlier start that would mean other workers starting work even earlier with no commensurate shortening of hours in the evening.