Unions’ Policy For Container Shipping

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32209, 30 January 1970, Page 1

Unions’ Policy For Container Shipping

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 29. General principles for union coverage of work connected with container shipping services were announced today by the president of the Federation of Labour (Mr T. E. Skinner).

In a statement after a meeting between a sub-com-mittee of all unions involved in the new services, and the executive of the F.0.L., Mr Skinner said the three main principles were: Fbll containers with shippers’ . own goods, to be loaded and unloaded and carried on a door-to-ship basis ■from the shippers' own premises, shall be packed and unpacked by workers who would normally do this work at the employers' places of business. Containers packed or unpacked outside the pre-; mises of the shipper or owner of the goods (for example into or out of containers at a container base or consolidating area) shall be the work of waterfront workers who would normally do the

work if it were performed I in the wharf area. j Work normally done by railway workers shall continue to be done by them as at present

Mr Skinner said the committee believed that it was impossible to lay down definite conditions until operations were more fully outlined.

He said the Minister of Labour (Mr Marshall) and the Port Employers’ Association had been advised of the general principles, and the' employers were now expected to give more details of how the services would operate.

Any dispute over the interpretation of the committee’s decision should be referred to the F.O.L. executive, which would consult the unions involved before any action was taken, Mr Skinner said.