Final attempt to avoid strike

Press, 12 January 1981, Page 1

Final attempt to avoid strike

PA Auckland A last-minute effort is being made to prevent this evening’s scheduled shutdown of the Marsden Point oil refinery. The parties to a wage claim dispute will meet once more at the request of the Minister of Labour (Mr Bolger). If they fail to reach a settlement again the Engine Drivers? Union will begin shutting down the refinery from 7.30 p.m. this evening. It will take ■them several days to complete the shutdown . but as from tonight no oil supplies will move in or out of the plant. Since Marsden Point refines 80 per cent of New Zealand petrol, stocks will begin drying up from that time. Auckland has a mere 10

days supply in holding tanks although there should be no problem until the end of the month.

Whangarei has 30 days supply, Mount Maunganui 34, Wellington 14, New Plymouth 40, and Napier 25.

When the talks between the union, which represents refinery workers, and the New Zealand Refining Company ended last week a union spokesman said they were “miles apart.” The union is holding out for its basic claim of 22.9 per cent, including last year’s 4 per cent general wage order. An Auckland industrial mediator, Mr T. E. Skinner, will preside at the meeting at Marsden Point today.