F.O.L. WARNS U.S.S.C. ON WAINUI UNLOADING

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32219, 11 February 1970, Page 1

F.O.L. WARNS U.S.S.C. ON WAINUI UNLOADING

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 10. In a major new development in the Wainui dispute the Federation of Labour warned the Union Steam Ship Company today that it would ask affiliates “to take appropriate action” if any attempt was made to discharge the ship.

The Wainui has been lying idle at Auckland with 7000 tons of export cargo aboard since October 14. The president of the Seamens Union (Mr W. Martin) said tonight that his na tional executive and the exe ciitive of the F.O.L. had met the Union Company late thi« afternoon. The F.O.L. ashed the company's representatives what their intentions were in re lation to the Wainui, Mr Mar tin said. The F.O L. stated that it was the company’s obligation to engage a crew and that both the company ami the Marine Engineers Institute should abide by the December 10 decision of Auckland's Marine Superintendent (Mr B. E Turner) that Motorman Robert Kidd be engaged on the Wainui. Meeting Held A spokesman for the Union Company said tonight that a meeting had taken place between the executives of the F.O.L. and the Seamens Union and “top management" of the company. The company’s chairman and managing director (Mr F. K. Macfarlane) who was present at the meeting, was considering the situation, the spokesman said. Auckland seamen plan a 24-hour stoppage to push for renewed negotiations on the future of the Wainui The stoppage was among recommendations made by seamen after a meeting yesterday. 120-day Stoppage The Wainui has now been at Auckland for 120 days. An official of the Seamen s Union said today that a shortage of marine engineers was now stopping some seamen getting work. He claimed that three ships were laid up in Auckland because engineers were not available. A full complement of seamen was ready for each ship, he said, but they couln not sail without engineers. The secretary of the Institute of Marine and Power Engineers’ (Mr C. S. Harnett) agreed that three ships could

be held up for lack of engineers. “But if the seamen are available for these ships why are they having such diffi culty in manning the Waiinui?” he asked. “The engineers are just not

I going to put up with nonsense 'from the Seamen’s Union and I misconduct from the men They are just getting out of ! it.” Mr Harnett said that since the Wainui dispute began! about 20 engineers had trans-

ferred from New Zealand to ! Australian shipping com! jpanies. Quite a number of; others had joined British [shipping companies or had got jobs on land. I “We've got to the stage •where the situation is becoming quite desperate,” he said. “There is no shortage of work for engineers. A man can leave New Zealand at 9 a.m., fly to Australia and by midday have the same sort of job for more money.” In Australia, said Mr Har-! nett, the engineers had much less industrial trouble and the power to discipline sea-! men. “If seamen want jobs the! thing for them to do is to [have a look in the mirror occasionally,” he said.