More strife in store for ferries?

Press, 16 February 1980, Page 1

More strife in store for ferries?

. PA Wellington Cook Strait ferry officers yesterday refused to lift their ban on night sailings, and an unconnected dispute at Picton threatens more disruption next week. The officers decided to continue their week-long ban after a meeting in Wellington, while Marlborough Harbour Board workers banned freight except for livestock or perishable goods, and threatened a 24-hour strike on Tuesday. The combined effects will limit today’s sailings from Wellington to three — at 10 a.m., 2.20 p.m. r and 6.40 p.m. Once the Aratika. returns from Picton at 7.20 a.m. the same timetable will apply from the South Island. Since the officers stopped the two night sailings last Friday, waggons have piled up at Wellington and. Picton at the rate of 200 a day. Light bookings have so

far enabled the Railways Department to accommodate vehicle and pedestrian passengers with little difficulty, but that will change if Tuesday’s strike goes ahead and more restrictions are imposed afterwards. Representatives of the officers’ union, the Merchant Service Guild, yesterday met the Minister of Labour (Mr Bolger) to discuss their claim that the findings of an inquiry into ferry wage rates have upset traditional relativities with marine. engineers. Mr Bolger wants the guild to meet the Institute of Marine and Power Engineers with an independent chairman. It agreed to that proposal, but not with" Mr Bolger’s requirement for a return to normal duties. The harbour board workers have, been on strike for two weeks but until yesterday had worked on the ferries for nothing.