Airport Dispute May Spread

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32385, 26 August 1970, Page 14

Airport Dispute May Spread

The dispute involving civil aviation workers at Christchurch Airport might spread to shift-workers in the mental health division of the Health Department and to those in the Electricity Department, the chairman of the Canterbury section of the Public Service Association (Mr J. O. Trevor) said last evening.

Mr Trevor said that an emergency meeting was held on Monday with representatives of shift-workers in the mental health division, and that “certain far-reaching proposals” were agreed. These were sent to toe national executive in Wellington, and the Canterbury section was waiting to see if they would be implemented. ' Representatives of shiftworkers in the Electricity Department had also met, and

were preparing to take action in support of a claim for adjustments to shift payments, Mr Trevor said. Various sections of the Public Service where shiftworkers were involved had voted overwhelmingly to support the stand taken by the Civil Aviation Department staff.

Emergency Services

Mr Trevor said that an action committee, comprising representatives of the civil aviation division of the Public Service Association, had been formed, and, with section officers of the Canterbury P.S.A, had decided to provide emergency services at Christchurch Airport Mr Trevor said that if the employing authority jeopar-

dised the spirit with which the services were being offered. the employees might be left with no alternative but to withdraw all services between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. Emergency services would be provi(led as foUowg: __ ” A,r traffic control section: All services for search and rescue, ground safety organ isation, and any incident where safety or human life was involved.

Meteorological services: The full observational programme would be maintained observations would be sent to Kelburn; all incoming information would be studied, warnings distributed and messages relating to emergencies dealt with. Communications services: These would continue to provide all meteorological data necessary for other than aviation purposes and for aviation in an emergency, and full services for ground safety organisation where safety or human life was involved. Crash fire services: For search and rescue, ground safety organisations, and any incident where safety or human life was involved. Technicians’ services: Repairs for any facility essential to safety would be carried out, but there would be no routine maintenance outside the hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.