Shipping News Secret agreement on stevedores

Press, 24 February 1978, Page 4

Shipping News Secret agreement on stevedores

The fate of 35 foremen stevedores sacked by Seaport Operations. Ltd in De■emher still seems somehing of a mystery. The men were given three nonths notice. operative 'rom March 5. but the Forenen Stevedores’ Union has rigorously contested the dismssal notices on the ground hat Seaport Operations — tow by far the biggest itevedore of conventional .hips in New Zealand — had tot followed the proper irocedure in issuing the lotices. However, the union's natonai secretary (Mr A. Wattinsl said in Lyttelton es-etdav that his union had 'come to an agreement’’ vith Seaport over the redunlancy situation, and a “satsafactory arrangement” had teen made. He was “not prepared to ay any more than that.” It had been agreed at the onference table that no mhlicity be given to the igreement. “as we believe it. s a private matter between he union and the company,” aid Mr Watkins. He did say though that lone of the men would he I spensed with on March 1. lust what has nappened to hem remains something of •nvsterv. which the Christhurch manager of Seaport Mr H Gordon) will do little o dispel. Mr Gordon said the mater had been handled at a lattonai level in Wellington, ind he had had nothing in rriting or any statement on my agreement reached with he union. He said he could speak >nly for the men in Lyttel-j

ton and Timaru. Most of these he said, had found alternative employment. Seaport also dismissed 50 other personnel in various port.? through New Zealand in December. ARRIVALS Tovu Maru .6.48 a.m.), 7348,1 Auckland (Scales). , Union Lyttelton <7.8 a.m.), 4500.1 Tap.. A. Dodds, Wellington Union Melbourne (10.30 a.m.), 40-':,. Cant I. D Cleaver. Wei-! lington (U.S.S.). Proiessor Vushenko (6.9 a.m.).' 6038. from sea (Scales!. DEPARTURES Union Melbourne (7.30 p.m.).| 404'. Dunedin (U.S.S.). Townsville Star <6 09 p.m.lJ 8230. for sea (Blue Port). EXPECTED ARRIVALS H.JICS Kootenav, from sea.' today. Easter.- Vademv. from sea, today. Hupeh. Wellington. February 26. Southland Star, Suva. FebruaryFort Coulonge. from sea, FebruHolmdale. Chatham Islands. February 27. Evergreen, Wellington. Februaryj Coast-i 't-ader, Auckland, Febru-I ary 27. Union I-lob—t. Wellington, February 28. I nion Xe -'-land, Adelaide. Feb- i ntary 28. Valetta. from sea. February 28 ' Coastal Trader. Dunedin. March 1. ; PROJECTED DEPARTURES ! Pro r es-o t - Yushenko. for sea.! today. Union Lyttelton. Wellington.' todav. S’r-; • Clement, for sea. todav. Star. U.S.A.. February | Coast-1 ' r -ader. Dunedin, Febru-' „ arv r * 7 ; Union Jos-.’-t. Wellington. February 28 Tovu Ma-u. for sea. February- 28.1 Coastal Trader. Auckland. March. I. VESSELS IN PORT Strait Clement. Cashin Quay) Yushenko. No. 2 East. Coasts’ Ranger. No 2 West. ; Toyu Maru, No. 3 West.