Threatened port strike off

Press, 1 June 1977, Page 3

Threatened port strike off

The threat of strike action’ this week by Lyttelton Harbour Board employees — only ten days before the port’s container crane is due to swing into action for the first time — was withdrawn yesterday.

The notice to strike was withdrawn after the Lyttelton Harbour Board agreed to attend a meeting of the port conciliation committee with the Harbour Board employees, over a manning dispute at the container terminal. The Harbour Board employees reckoned that, under

the rules, all workers regularly employed by the board at the terminal should be members of the Harbour Board Employees’ Union. They were referring to tally clerks, who are members of the Waterfront Workers’ Union, and foremen and stevedores, who have a union of their own.

Their request about tally clerks was dropped later when it was realised that they would be working the terminal on a rotational basis, as would watersiders, and could not be classed as ■ regular permanent members

of the terminal’s work-force. The Foremans’ and Stevedores Union has expressed total opposition to having part of its membership siphoned off by the Harbour Board employees, but it is understood that it too has agreed to meet the port conciliation committee.

The Lytelton branch secretary of the Harbour Board Employees’ Union (Mr W. E. Wildey) said yesterday that he hoped both cases would be brought to the Waterfront Industry Tribunal at the same time, to avoid having to prepare two separate cases.