Auckland Tanker Drivers Strike

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31864, 17 December 1968, Page 22

Auckland Tanker Drivers Strike

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, December 16. More than 130 oil company drivers who service an area from Wellsford to Huntly went on strike in Auckland late today.

Unless the men return to work, petrol supplies in the city will be drained in less than a week. The stoppage is over a pay dispute between the Northern Drivers’ Union and the Mobil Oil Company (N.Z.), Ltd, which began six days ago. Eighteen Mobil drivers were sacked when they refused to) drive a new petrol tanker which tows a trailer. Their! union is claiming an extra $5 a week each for the two men required to drive it. When left with only nine drivers, Mobil enlisted the, help of other companies.! Three drivers from two other: companies also refused to drive the Mobil trailer-tanker and were sacked. The decision to strike was!

! made at a five-hour stop-work ! meeting attended by 135 drivers this afternoon. The men will meet again tomorrow ; morning to hear of any dej velopments. ! The spokesman for the industry in Auckland, Mr D. Kelly, in an exchange of letiters with the union today, (said the companies were not prepared to discuss award 'conditions with the union. However, he said, the industry was prepared to discuss I “matters of mutual interest” iwith the Drivers’ Federation. Mobil is claiming a breach of an agreement signed by the parties on November 11. The agreement provided for an increase of 10c a day for drivers required to tow trailers. The union has countered the accusation by claiming it is common practice in New

Zealand to negotiate improvements once an award has been completed—ruling rates in the industry, it says, are set after an award has been signed. Both parties in the dispute have made concessions to have the men return to work but the deadlock remains unbroken. The drivers were prepared to go back if the companies would accept three conditions: That all drivers suspended or dismissed be reinstated on the same terms and conditions as previously; That early discussions be held on the wage rate in the dispute; and That drivers would resume normal work, including towing the trailer on the' award rate. Mr Kelly said tonight that the companies were prepared to reinstate the men but they could not agree to negotiate with the union. Drivers who had been dismissed had been paid their wages but the others would be paid for the period they worked, he said. Long-service | and superannuation payments would not be jeopardised. I