Union claim to Tasman trade

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33060, 30 October 1972, Page 3

Union claim to Tasman trade

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

SYDNEY, October 29.

A strengthening of claims by Australian and New Zealand maritime unions to reserve the Tasman trade for the national flagships of both nations is reported by the “Australian Financial Review.”

A successful joint demand for such a reservation has already ben made to Comalco, Ltd. Comalco’s aluminium smelter at Bluff uses alumina shipped from the Gladstone refinery, in Queensland. Until now the company has shipped its alumina requirements to Bluff from Gladstone in British-flag vessels under the terms of a contract with the Tenax Steamship Company, Ltd, of London. Earlier this year, the unions in both Australia and New Zealand campaigned to have these vessels replaced by others manned by Australian or New Zealand crews, and a number of British ships engaged in the trade were delayed by industrial action. While there is no legislative basis in either country for the union claim to man the Tasman trade with Australian or New Zealand crews, there is a long-established practice to this effect, and the union claims have been backed up by both the New Zealand Federation of Labour and the Australian Council of Trade Unions. When the union’s claims were first put forward, Comalco resisted them, on the ground that the expense resulting from the high manning costs of local crews would affect the economic running of the smelter. However, the unions pressed their claims, and a number of meetings were held, under the auspices of the A.C.T.U., with the maritime unions of both countries.

The last meeting was held in Sydney on September 14. A few days ago, Comalco notified the A.C.T.U. and the maritime unions that the

company was prepared to arrange for the employment of Australian and New Zealand crews on Gladstone-Bluff alumina transport. The company made the proviso, that pending completion of new shipping arrangements—which should be between April and June next year—the unions should not further hinder shipping arranged with the Tenax Steamship Company. The unions are also pressing demands on the West German Columbus Line to have local crews man that company’s container ships on the Australian-New ZealandUnited States east coast trade. So far there has been no advance on these demands. The company claims there is no way it can accede to union wishes.