Drivers begin two – day stoppage over pay talks

Press, 20 August 1979, Page 1

Drivers begin two - day stoppage over pay talks

Canterbury drivers began a 48-hour strike at midnight last night.

The stoppage, affecting all drivers covered under the general drivers’ award, will end at midnight on Tuesday. The strike is expected to upset the delivery of stock, containers, furniture, some foodstuffs, and general goods. The Addington stock sale, normally held on Tuesday, has been postponed to Wednesday. Wellington drivers also went on strike from midnight this morning until 8 a.m. tomorrow. The director of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr I. D. Howell) said yesterday that he did not expect any serious disruption to manufacturing industries in Christchurch. Inured to industrial unrest after the transport disruptions of the last 12 months, Canterbury manufacturers had buitt up stocks of raw materials

which could last between eight and 10 weeks, said Mr Howell. The Industries Fair would not be affected.

Canterbury drivers had held meetings on Friday and yesterday, and had decided on direct action by secret ballot, sa'fi the secretary of the Canterbury Drivers’ Union (Mr P. R. Liggett) last evening. Drivers employed under the general award from the Clarence River to the Waitaki River would be affected by the stoppage, although exemptions granted during the last drivers’ dispute would also apply this time, said Mr Liggett. Coach drivers, oil-tanker drivers, local-body drivers, bus drivers, and taxis would not be involved in the dispute. Driver delegates in the Canterbury district would meet in Christchurch tomorrow to discuss the im-

passe in the award talks. Further stoppages could not be ruled out, said Mr Liggett.

Direct action had been prompted by the union members’ frustration over the delays in settling a new agreement between the drivers and their employers, Mr Liggett said. The fourth meeting of the conciliation council was adjourned in Wellington last Wednesday when the two parties could find no common ground to discuss a settlement.

Mr Liggett said he did not think drivers would cross swords with the Government over the dispute. Union claims had been withdrawn from the conciliation council on Friday, leaving the way open for direct action.

A new series of claims would probably be filed in Wellington this week, said Mr Liggett. Employers in Canterbury had reached “the maximum” they were able to pay, said Mr C. L. Paterson, chairman of the Christchurch Driving Industry Co-ordinating Committee.

“Canterbury employers are resolute,” Mr Paterson said. “They consider that a fair offer was made to the Drivers’ Federation in national conciliation, and they believe that many members of the union would like to see the offer accepted.” The short notice given by drivers for the dispute showed scant regard for the employers, said Mr Paterson, whose committee includes members of the Contractors’ Federation, the Road Transport Association, the Employers’ Association, and ancillary firms. Transport users and customers would suffer inconvenience and delays, he said. Mr Howell criticised the latest transport disruption. “These continuing transport disruptions are not encouraging companies to establish and expand in Canterbury, and these industrial problems are affecting job opportunities for other workers,” Mr Howel', said.