Ferry Delayed By Payments Dispute

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31986, 13 May 1969, Page 18

Ferry Delayed By Payments Dispute

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 12.

The Wellington-Lyttelton ferry Maori sailed two hours late tonight after the ship’s cooks and stewards stopped work over a dispute about compensation payments for work done during last week’s storm.

Fifty-one men walked off the ship at 7.15 p.m. when discussions with the Union Steam Ship Company were in progress.

They were demanding 55.75 extra a day for the three days of last week’s storm when the, men were working between. 18 and 19 hours a day, an as-. sistant steward who took part | in the negotiations, Mr M. A. 1 Walters, said tonight. An agreement was reached at 8.45 p.m., with the company agreeing to the men’s demands, Mr Walters said. An announcement was made over the public address system at 6 p.m. telling passengers that the ferry would be delayed.

After walking off the ship the 51 men gathered round the gangway. They refused to talk to reporters. When they were told by union delegates that the settlement had been reached they went back on board.

A company spokesman said tonight Mr Walter's comments were basically right. The company had arranged for a meeting this Thursday to discuss work done during the storm, but the union was not prepared to go along with this.

The ship had about 700 passengers on board and would arrive in Lyttelton about 8 a.m. tomorrow—about one hour late.