Hope of ferry accord

Press, 13 June 1984, Page 1

Hope of ferry accord

PA Wellington Both the Railways Corporation and the National Union of Railwaymen were hopeful of a solution to the long-running Cook Strait ferry dispute after a twohour meeting in Wellington yesterday afternoon. The General Manager of Railways, Mr Gordon Purdy, said the discussions centred on freight working at the Picton ferry terminal. Picton shunters say new rosters are unworkable and the dispute has caused long ferry delays. Mr Purdy said the Railways felt the union agreed with it that it was in neither party’s interests for the ferries to be delayed. He believed that a genuine attempt to eliminate the work practices causing the delays would now be made.

The union’s general secretary, Mr Don Goodfellow, said that the Railways would give it a written list of requirements for a satisfactory return to work, which the union would take to the men in Picton.

“We want the corporation to give us specifics about their demands and then we will go to the men,” he said.

“But it is still in the back of my mind that the roster schedules are too tight.”