PORT STUDY BY F.O.L.

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32351, 17 July 1970, Page 24

PORT STUDY BY F.O.L.

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 16. The Federation of Labour will investigate the troubled area of waterfront labour, with a special eye on the handling of container cargo.

Leading the move is the president of the federation (Mr T. E. Skinner), who made a study of labour organisation and conditions at the Tilbury container docks in Britain last month.

Now that the row over the Shipping and Seamen Amendment (No. 2) Bill has died the federation will call together representatives of waterside workers’ unions, the Storemen, Packers' Union, and its own senior officers to study waterfront labour problems. Mr Skinner said today the parties would meet as soon

as possible. “What course we will lake depends entirely on what we see at first hand,” be said. One of the outstanding problems confronting the waterfront industry at the moment is dissent over proposed changes in labour conditions designed to meet the trends of international shipping. Permanent employment and shift work are two of the proposed changes. They were put to watersiders throughout the country several months ago but met strong opposition from Auckland and Wellington members and were sent back to be negotiated, along with wage claims, for a new award. Results of continued talks between watersiders and employers on the award are expected soon. The federation is primarily interested in the long-term arrangements to handle container shipping, but the moreimmediate problem of defining areas of waterfront work will be one of the first it will face. Mr Skinner said the ports of Auckland and Wellington would be the first to be examined. In the meantime employers would not be involved in the investigation.