Firm says crew broke contract

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33792, 14 March 1975, Page 21

Firm says crew broke contract

GN.Z. Press Association) f INVERCARGILL. ' The Chevron Shipping Company, owner of the oil tanker held in Bluff by a black ban of the International Transport Federation, on Wednesday broke the silence it has maintained: over the dispute since 19: Filipino crewmen walked i oc the Chevron Venice last Friday.

But apart from making a statement through the local shipping agents for the Chevron Venice, the company apparently made no moves to begin talks to end the dispute. According to the president of the Southland Watersiders’ union (Mr R. W. Powley), who has been appointed by the London-based International Transport Federation to act as its spokesman and negotiator in the dispute, the next move is up to the company. The federation was ready to hold negotiations and Mr Powle\- had hoped these could have started yesterday. But they did not, and now Mr Powley is waiting for possible developments tomorrow. Mr L. V. le Petit, of J. E. Watson and Company, local agents for the tanker, has given the company’s side of the story. “By taking this action in

leaving their posts, the Fili-1 pino seamen violated their j employment contract which | has the approval of the! Philippine Government,” he! said. ‘ABOVE MINIMUM’ “The Chevron’s Filipino seamen enjoy pay, benefits, and working conditions that are superior to the minimum i requirement authorised by the Philippine National Seamen’s • Board for Filipino seamen on : foregin-flag vessels.” According to Mr le Petit, | this had been verified by a : representative of the Philippine National Seamen’s Board who was flown from Manila (to investigate the case. “Should disputes arise, ■they are protected by grievi ance procedures which inIvolve their Filipino manning agent and the Philippine Government.” After the 19 seamen walked off the tanker the Chevron company arranged for their meals and accommodation at an Invercargill hotel until they could be repatriated to Manila, Mr le Petit said.

“The action of the crew arose at Lyttelton from the discharge of two seamen for incompetence,” he said. “The dissident crewmen alleged the ship was in unseaworthy condition and demanded pay and benefits in excess of their employment contract. ‘MINOR ITEMS’ : “The vessel was inspected (at Bluff by the American i Bureau of Shipping and the (Marine Division of the Minisjtry of Transport, accompan-

ied by a representative of the Watersiders’ Union.

“This inspection revealed! only very minor deficiencies that have since been corrected to the satisfaction of the Ministry of Transport and the American Bureau of Shipping- v . . “The surveyors emphasised that these deficiencies were nothing more than the normal minor items that arise on a vessel through its day-to-day operations. “This vessel is basically 30 years old and of war-time construction and they found her to be well maintained and in good working order, j “That she is in such good (condition would indicate that iher owners have paid particular care to her maintenance schedules,” Mr le Petit said. CALTEX CARGO The company is believed to be still carrying out its plans

to fly out a replacement crew to man the tanker but [nothing more has been heard of this.

The giant Caltex company is also believed to be concerned about the speedy settlement of the dispute as it is chartering the Chevron Venice to carry its products.