Ferry Officers Critical Of Pay Margins

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31976, 1 May 1969, Page 26

Ferry Officers Critical Of Pay Margins

(New Zealand Press Association? ' WELLINGTON, April 30. Officers of the inter-island steamer Maori are concerned about the margins between them and ratings serving under them.

A meeting of all officers wds held at Lyttelton on Sunday and included deck, engineer and radio officers. Representatives of the Merchant Service Guild will have discussions with officials from the Union Steam Ship Company next week. The general secretary of the guild (Captain J. W. Dickinson) said today the officers had met because they were generally concerned about the loss of margins between them and the ratings. “The margin of responsibility, skill and qualifications is very fine,” he said. “The men in the Maori have expressed concern that the company has failed to give concessions similar to those given the ratings." The Maori was delayed at Lyttelton recently when seamen were involved in a dispute over pay conditions. This was settled, it is understood, when the company agreed to give certain increases to the men involved. An official from the Union

> Company said that a meeting ■ between company and guild . representatives would take place in a few days. > Captain Dickinson also said I that there was no talk of i “strike action” although some i individuals might have made statements expressing their • own opinion.