Power workers take action over four

Press, 2 May 1985, Page 9

Power workers take action over four

Riccarton Borough Council electricity workers will refuse to answer calls or work overtime from Friday. The industrial action is in support of full compensation for four workers facing redundancy in the council's electricity department. Dismissal notices have been issued to two men, to take effect from May 10. A strike by the department had already been planned to begin that day, but the workers decided they wanted to take action before the two were dismissed, said Mr Ross Miller, of the Canterbury branch of the Engineers’ Union.

The workers would meet next week to consider fur-

ther action, but it was probable that there would still be a full strike on May 10, he said. The action would continue until the four workers, including two who had had alternative job interviews arranged by the council, had received full redundancy pay, said Mr Miller. The men still did not know if the interviews had been successful. Even if they were offered the alternative jobs (at the Central Canterbury Power Board) they would lose money by losing their longservice entitlements, he said. The Riccarton Town Clerk, Mr John Skinner, said

that the council was concerned that emergency calls “involving life and limb" would not be answered by the electricity workers. The power supply to consumers would not be affected by the action, he said.

The council was waiting to hear the outcome of the job interviews before it considered the dispute further. It was prepared to negotiate with the workers on the redundancy agreement if the workers agreed not to strike on May 10 and if the continuing ban on meter work was lifted. The ban was imposed after a meter electrician was dismissed last year and not replaced.