Marsden move likely today

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 1

Marsden move likely today

PA Auckland Officials at the Marsden Point refinery are likely to make a move this morning in response to the continued refusal of unions to discuss an agreement allowing work to start on the plant's twoyearly overhaul. The refinery began shutting down a week ago and is now “cold," awaiting a start on the eight-week maintenance programme.

A company spokesman, Mr Neville Milne, would not be drawn yesterday on whether the company’s” next move would be to lay off staff who would have been employed on the overhaul.

“When people are being paid we expect them to be

doing what needs to be done,” he said.

Refinery staff were given other’ tasks round the plant last week to maintain an atmosphere conducive to the talks with three unions .— engineers, boilermakers, and stationary engine drivers.

The talks ended in deadlock on Friday with the union side, led by the secretary of the Federation of Labour, Mr K. G. Douglas, refusing to discuss a shutdown agreement until an earlier relativities issue was resolved.

The parties planned to seek clarification from the Minister of Labour. Mr Bolger, of their ability to negotiate relativities during the wage freeze.