Marsden Pt dispute to worsen?

Press, 1 February 1983, Page 1

Marsden Pt dispute to worsen?

PA Wellington The Federation of Labour president. Mr W. J. Knox, last evening warned of worsening management-union relations at the troubled Marsden Point oil refinery site. After meeting the Minister of Labour. Mr Bolger, at the Beehive. Mr Knox said that no heddway had been made on resolving a series of disputes. Meanwhile, the JV2 construction consortium's industrial relations manager. Mr Ron Richards, said earlier in Whangarei that suspensions were certain on the site today if the situation remained unchanged. Mr Bolger will meet the employers this afternoon. He also said that after seeing the F.O.L. delegation that he did not think any progress had been made. Mr Knox said: I don't think we are improving any relationship on that site with the employer. I think it's worsening." More than 120 workers are involved with strikes or bans at the refinery, and industrial action by scaffolders, riggers, and drivers could lead to other workers being suspended as work for them runs out. Mr Richards said the suspensions could apply to a wide range of trades. ’ In the latest dispute more than 100 riggers and drivers have told the company that they do not want to work alongside a certain crane driver and have placed a ban on working in one area. The F.O.L. and Mr Bolger yesterday mainly canvassed the overseas recruitment of riggers, an issue which has twice been before the Arbi-

tration Court but which still defies resolution. Mr Knox said the company was “still blatantly and arrogantly" refusing to employ men who had worked oil other sites where there has been industrial upheaval. New Zealand-resident riggers and scaffolders were available for work and more would come off the Hunlly power station site as it wound down, but the company was looking to bring in workers from overseas. Mr Knox said. About 40 carpenters from the strike-hit Mangere bridge site had tried to get work at Marsden Point but had be*'n turned down, he said “1 can't understand the Government not taking a more definite stand on the question of the right ot workers unemployed in New Zealand to get first preference." he said. Mr Bolger said there was no suggestion that the 26 workers so far recruited overseas were the total required on the site. The numbers required were very large. He said he presumed some of the workers who would leave Huntly would go to Marsden Point. But there would still be a shortage of skilled labour and the employer had the right to decide who was a suitable worker.. Mr Kncx maintained that the company was refusing to consider a list of workers produced by the unions. "We are'prepared to discuss what we can supply from the unions and then talk about the difference they want to bring in from overseas."