Crane ban referred to Court

Press, 8 March 1984, Page 9

Crane ban referred to Court

PA Whangarei A “black ban” by riggers of the giant Gottwald crane on the Marsden Point expansion site would be referred by the management to the Arbitration Court, said the refinery constructors’ project manager, Mr Jack Hardie, yesterday.

He said the move was being taken “with reluctance.” Faced with suspending the majority of the work-force, the management saw the move as the only option open. Mr Hardie said the Court

would be asked to enforce a decision by the industrial conciliator, Mr John Bufton, who had ruled that the shifting of the crane—while riggers were at a meetingon February 24 had been “marginally riggers’ work.” Mr Bufton also ruled that the riggers should resume normal work and that they would riot be paid for the time on February 24 when they attended a stop-work meeting in Auckland. The crane has not been worked since February 27.

The Marsden Point riggers’ delegate, Mr Dan Bradley, was not available for comment.