Oil rigs identity crisis

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33928, 22 August 1975, Page 2

Oil rigs identity crisis

IN.Z Press Association) I WELLINGTON, August 21. Ship or industrial installation? The identity of the oil-drilling rig,, Glomar Tasman, was the subject of a dispute brought before the Industrial Court in Wellington today. The Burmah Oil Company: of Australia, Ltd, which isusing the rig to prospect fori oil in the Taranaki Bight. I says the rig is an industrial I installation, for the purpose! .of jurisdiction, sited on the Taranaki coast. Two unions that could re-1 present some of the workers I on the rig—the Cooks and. Stewards’ Union and the! Hotel, Hospital, Restaurant; Employees’ Union — say the l rig is a ship. | Complicating matters,!

8.0.C.A.L. says these two unions are involved in a dispute, which they both deny. The secretary of the Cooks and Stewards' Union (Mr T. M. Hill) and the secretary of the Hotel. Hospital. Restaurant Workers' Union (Mr L. N. Short) said they were not at loggerheads over which union should represent workers in the rig’s cafeteria. Mr Short said a gentleman’s agreement had existed between the two unions for a number of years on the question because both unions had an involvement in cooking and catering. They agreed all catering work done on ships at sea would be covered by the Cooks and Stewards’ Union and all catering done on the land or attached installations should be covered by the hotel workers’ union. The hote] workers’ union had initially responded to the employers’ suggestion of an agreement to cover workers;

in the cafeteria because they understood the Glomar Tasman to be an industrial installation. But when the union found out more - about the ship concerned, both the company and the Cooks and Stewards’ Union were told the work was that of cooks and stewards. Agreements .were made between the employers and the : hotel workers’ union for the Wanganella and the Penrod ; rig because both were accepted as installations and not ships. The Wanganella at Manapouri was fixed securely by .iron bars and concrete to the land and the Penrod rig had no motive power, had to be towed, and was an installation fixed to the seabed. Mr Hill said the Glomar Tasman was a ship and his members had the right to work on board. Evidence had been given that she could move at eight knots. Mr C. F. Knox, appearing; for 8.0.C.A.L., submitted that!

the Cooks and Stewards’ Unions’ rules covered only certain -ships operating under certain conditions, and that the Glomar Tasman was outside the scope of the rules. The Continental Shelf Act provided that every such installation or device was situated in New Zealand and should be deemed to be situated in the part of New Zealand above high-water mark at ordinary spring tides which was nearest to the installation or device. Mr Hill commented: “We have had some great track runners and tango dancers, but nobody has been greater than the Glomar Tasman for trying to exclude my union.” He said that, according to Mr Knox’s submission, if all; the ships off New’ Zealand dropped anchor, then the I catering staff would have to; join the hotel workers’ union. I The Court, whose president! was Judge R. D. Jamieson, (reserved its decision.