Auckland Watersiders Ban Overtime

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30154, 11 June 1963, Page 12

Auckland Watersiders Ban Overtime

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, JuAe 10.

Auckland waterside workers declined to work overtime tonight after the imposition by the Auckland Harbour Board of car-parking charges on two areas of reclamation land.

The overtime ban affected about 25 ships and involved more than 2000 waterfront workers, tally clerks, stevedores, foremen, timekeepers and Harbour Board employees. No work was done on* the waterfront after 5 p.m.

The dispute has been handed over to the Federation of Labour, whose actingpresident, Mr T. E. Skinner, tonight described it as "the most Gilbertian situation I’ve ever had anything to do with ” The ban comes after a decision by the board to cnarge for marking on about two and three-quarter acres o’ land on the eastern reclamation and one and a half acres in the lighter basin area These areas had been used as free parking lots by waterfront workers for many years

The charges imposed are 2s a day for waterfront workers' cars, or 5s for a five-day concession card; 2s 6d a day for public cars or light trade vehicles: and 7s 6d a day or part of a day, or £1 19s a week for buses

Both car parks were boycotted by the workers today Instead of 500 cars in the eastern park there were fewer than a dozen In the lighter basin park, capable of taking 250 cars, there were only 14 None of these are believed tv have belonged to waterfront workers. Workers who normally used their own cars came to work by public transport or found other

parking spots in already congested streets. Mr Skinner met representatives of all the waterfront unions this aifternoon. He said a resolution had been carried unanimously supporting the Federation of Labour io handling the dispute In the meantime, he said, the 44-hour week would cont njie to be worked the men finishing at 5 p.m. "The first thing to do is to find out who I have to negotiate with.” he said The harbour board had decided to charge for parking or land that had long been idle, he said. The board's general manager, Mr A. C. Clarke, had said it was not

concerned whether the employees or their employers paid for the parking—it was a matter for them to discuss among themselves Harbour board employees were not charged for parking and the board said that in not charging them it was giving a lead to other employers, said Mff Skinner The Port Employers' Association. on the other hand, •aid it wa«s a matter between 'he board and the car owners. Mr G H Anderson, secretary of the Northern Drivers’ Union, said his union was instructing its members not to cart of! the wharves in overtime hours unless the tally clerks were working to check cut cargo.