U.K. DOCKS STRIKE Banana Cargoes To Be Dumped In Sea

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32361, 29 July 1970, Page 17

U.K. DOCKS STRIKE Banana Cargoes To Be Dumped In Sea

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, July 28. Two ships will sail from British ports today to dump into the Atlantic £320,000 worth of rotting West Indian bananas, casualties of the national docks strike that is now in its fourteenth day.

The cargo ship Brunstal will leave Barry, South Wales, with 1300 tons of bananas valued originally at £120,000, the dockers there having refused to unload perishable cargoes.

And from London, the cargo vessel Northern Lights will return to Jamaica and, on her way, win dump £200,000 worth of rotting fruit. Other ships with long-held cargoes of fruit are bound to follow suit unless they are unloaded soon. The dumping has been announced amid rising hopes that the peace formula proposal by an Independent court of inquiry will end the costly stoppage tomorrow, when representatives of the 47,000 striking dockers meet to discuss the Court’s findings, which have already been accepted readily and in full by the port employers. The Court's recommendations make the dockers' already-complicated wage structure even more involved A docker’s weekly pay is based on a minimum “calculator rate’’—now slightly more than £ll—and, starting from this, he receives pro rata percentage additions for overtime, holidays and standby money, the latter being paid when he is unable to work because of weather conditions or because of a delay elsewhere in the docks. The dockers, who have been complaining for three years,

i wanted the £ll calculator rate have decided to put them beIncreased to £2O. fore their members, has given Rejecting their demand, the hope that the end of the Court has admitted that the crippling strike may be in system is now outdated and, sight. as an alternative, recommends But the last word will rest that instead of overtime being with the dockers themselves, based on a rate pro rata to The feeling today is that £ll, it should be calculated the more moderate elements on a theoretical minimum of in the union—the strike beabout £l6, without altering gan by a narrow voting i the £ll for basic Calculations, decide that belt also recommends that cause the offer gives them all holiday pay should be pro more money, they have now rata to £2O, Instead of the achieved their object and present basic £ll, and that will go back to work. some “side” benefits should Against them, however, will also be raised. be the hard core of militants. The plan prepared by the such as the men at SouthInquiry is estimated, to put ampton and Liverpool, who more than £sm on the em- even refused their own ployers’ yearly wage bill, union’s plea to unload food individual rises varying from ships before thtir cargoes 25c to £2 15s a week. rotted. ln^«!a WO h U IHH C .°v me .I r H Om^ e The X ma * declde «>at the increased holiday and over- principle of increasing the PVtra P bnmit nt fnr 8 rn baS * C minlmum . Which they have not achieved, is more n,odernlsation P r °- important than the pay-out gramme. J,, . . , , , , The original decision to Dpciftinn Tnrinv strike was taken b X a vote of uecision loaay 48 .3 2 t since when the 47 000 The employers accepted the strikers have had two weeks proposals immediately and on strike pay of only £5 a named the date for their week. Faced with the prosimplementation: August 3. pect of more money when The unions made no comment they do get back to workon them, but decided to call even more than the £35 to £4O a special delegate meeting they were earning before the tomorrow, at which they will strike, it is thought that there make their decision. will be sufficient moderates to The fact that the employers swing the balance away from have accepted the proposals, the militants, and that the and that the unions' leaders vote will be to go back.

have decided to put them before their members, has given hope that the end of the crippling strike may be in sight. But the last word will rest with the dockers themselves. The feeling today is that the more moderate elements in the union—the strike began by a narrow voting majority—-will decide that because the offer gives them all more money, they have now achieved their object and will go back to work. Against them, however, will be the hard core of militants, such as the men at Southampton and Liverpool, who even refused their own union's plea to unload food ships before thCir cargoes rotted. They may decide that the principle of increasing the basic minimum, which they have not achieved, is more important than the pay-out The original decision to strike was taken by a vote of 48-32, since when the 47,000 strikers have had two weeks on strike pay of only £5 a week. Faced with the prospect of more money when they do get back to workeven more than the £35 to £4O they were earning before the strike, it is thought that there will be sufficient moderates to swing the balance away from the militants, and that the vote will be to go back.