Waterfront wage talks to resume

Press, 2 December 1978, Page 4

Waterfront wage talks to resume

Negotiations will resume in Wellington next week on a 25 per cent wage increase i claim by watersiders and a reported 17 per cent offer hy ' the Port Employers’ Association. i The negotiations form part of the revision of the general principal order for I the waterfront due to expire on December 19. | Watersiders are claiming traditional parity with carpenters, which would increase their hourly basic 'rate from $2.79 to $3.46.4. i Shipping interests have expressed concern about the ( flow-on effects of the 25 per 1 cent which would give automatic increases to other waterfront workers. These include foremenstevedores with a traditional increase of 38.5 per cent above watersiders. giving a new rate of $4.79 an hour. . Permanent hands employed in wharf sheds will receive 81.27 per cent of the new foremen - stevedores’ rate and permanent hands! not in charge will receive 75.85 per cent of the fore- | men’s new rates. ■ The chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board (Mr J. Brand) said that any substantial increase would cause a good deal of concern to the board. “We are certainly very” I worried about the magnitude.

of the demands and they must have a detrimental effect on the port.'’ he said Any increase would ■-pill over ’to other unions. MiBrand said, and there would be serious increases in costs. The board has employed waterside labour only since the inception of the container terminal. Watersiders at the terminal receive higher wages than other sections of the port. The system at Lyttelton provides for a three-monthly rotation for container work. Because the Lyttelton terminal had not been working 'for two years, no wagecost comparison was available, the board’s general manager (Mr J. A. McPhail) said. He was asked to comment on an Auckland Harbour Board statement that higher waterfront rates could not be met. The board said the port wage bill rose nearly SSM (24.36 per cent) last year. The all-up wage costs, including Waterfront Industry Commission levies (to cover guaranteed wages, holiday and sick pay) rose from $19.7M during 1976-77 to S24M during 1977-78. The Waterfront Industry Commission in Wellington yesterday refused to disclose the cost of levies at l.yttel- . ton.