Worn-out boots make for walk-out

Press, 28 November 1977, Page 25

Worn-out boots make for walk-out

PA Wellington A row over a pair of boots stopped work on Thursday afternoon on the Bank of New Zealand site in Wellington. The riggers’ and, workers’ delegate on the site, Mr J. R. “Black Jock” McKenzie declared that his boots — a pair issued by the project contractors, Civil and Civic — were defective. ; But Civil and Civic rei fused to move outside the : terms of a proposed site ; agreement, which says that ; only one pair of boots will ; be issued to each worker ; once a year. So the welders, boilermakers, riggers and their assistants under the management of the site’s struc-tural-steel subcontractors, j Green Arrow, met at 12.30, ■ and decided at 1.15 p.m. to stop work for the rest of I the day. Officially, the management was told the stoppage was over the “length of time taken to receive an acceptable answer to a request for replacement” of the boots. The project manager (Mr Alan McLeod) said the i company reply had been given on Wednesday, to 1 the effect that the terms of the proposed site agreement would be observed. However, the president of the Wellington Trades Council (Mr Pat Kelly),

who is spokesman for the site’s boilermakers, said yesterday that it was normal practice in industry for management to replace boots unwearabie because of fair wear and tear. The workers were back at their jobs at 7.30 a.m. yesterday, Mr McKenzie wearing what seemed to be sandshoes. However, it is understood the boots dispute could be resurrected if, when it next rains, Mr McKenzie is required to work in liis new footwear.