Oil-tanker drivers may stay out

Press, 1 October 1979, Page 1

Oil-tanker drivers may stay out

Striking oil-tanker drivers in Christchurch may continue their industrial action indefinitely. The drivers will meet this morning to decide whether to return to work but Lie secretary of the Canterbury Drivers’ Union (Mr P. Liggett) said yesterday there was a "distinct possibility” the strike would continue. The employers had refused to withdraw from an Arbitration Court hearing, set for October 10, at which the drivers’ grievrnces would be discussed. The union wanted the employers to withdraw because a compulsory conference in Christchurch on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Mr M. Teen would be hamstrung if a decision from a higher authority was expected a week later. Many of the matters to come before the conference were also due to be

heard by the court. It was unacceptable to the union that the conference should be pre-empted by higher arbitration. The executive officer of the Oil Industry Union of Employers (Mr S. Marshall) said from Wellington yesterday that the employers viewed the conference as an informal meeting at which a pattern for future applications could be agreed on. "The matters before the Arbitration Court are only the e for a legal interpretation of the rights of both parties,’’ said Mr Marshall. The conference would not be compromised by the Court hearing. "We want to have a preliminary chat on Wednesday between the union and the employers and then adjourn until after the Court has made a decision. “The conference can

then be resumed and eon sider the Court’s findings: this is a common and acceptable method of dealing with industrial problems. "The union approached us last Wednesday for a conference knowing full well that some matters were going before . the Court. The employers agreed and an undertaking was given that work would resume. “Now we find another pre-condition to ending the strike and this is unacceptable to the employers." Mr Liggett said the drivers had learned of the Court hearing only on Friday afternoon after he had returned from talks with Mr Marshall in Wellington. He would recommend to the drivers that they return to work this morning but they could reject