Alleged illegal strike decision reserved

Press, 11 December 1982, Page 13

Alleged illegal strike decision reserved

PA Auckland A District Court judge at Auckland has reserved decision at a hearing in which seven storemen were charged with striking illegally. The storemen are all employed by BP Oil New Zealand, Ltd. The charges were laid by Allan James Stewart, the area operations manager of BP Oil New Zealand, who said he had been instructed by his company to lay them. The seven storemen have each pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to give 14 days notice of intention to strike, being workers in an essential industry. The Court heard that the defendants were members of the Northern Storepersons and Packers' Union.

Mr R. J. D. Buddle, for the complainant, said the charges arose from an alleged illegal stoppage at Mechanics Bay on August 9 and Freemans Bay on August 10, and related to the discharging of petroleum products from the tanker British Fidelity. Judge Taylor reserved decision until January 25. Mr John Haigh appeared for the storemen. The storemen are Isimeeli Tonga Fisikefu, aged 34, of Glen Innes; William Foster, 19, of Grey Lynn; Timothy Harness, 30, of Buckland's Beach; Bruce Stevenson Knuckey, 39, of Henderson; Max Leki. 28, of Avondale; Matepurua Epiha Maihi, 34, of Orakei; and Michael Phillips, 31. of Devonport.