Dockers’ Talks Crucial

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32362, 30 July 1970, Page 17

Dockers’ Talks Crucial

(N.Z.P.A.-l

LONDON, July 29.

Eighty-two dockers’ representatives are meeting in London this morning to decide whether to end, or to prolong Britain’s national docks strike, which has already put a stop to all cargo-handling at ports for two weeks.

The dockers also had a clear hint last night, from the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (Mr Victor Feather) that the time had come to call off the strike.

Yesterday, the men at some docks held special meetings to instruct their delegates how to vote. At Tynside, the wharfsiders had already decided to stay out for a better offer. Today’s vote is crucial because if the pay proposals put forward by the Governmentappointed court of inquiry are rejected, the employers say they will not be prepared to begin negotiating all over again. Two important developments last night indicated that the strike may be nearing an end. First, the powerful Transport and General Workers’ Union docks and waterways committee; which represents 40,000 of the 46,500 striking dockers, agreed to support the Government's proposals.