Wharves might work late into night

Press, 15 January 1986, Page 4

Wharves might work late into night

PA Wellington Waterfront employers want ports to work into the night loading and unloading ships in a bid to revamp their industry. They want watersiders to work a twilight shift to get more flexible working hours and work practices on the wharves. They are also seeking smaller work gangs and a revision of the bonus system. It is reported that watersiders have agreed to negotiate changes to work practices and will hear details of employer proposals at the first of a series of meetings on February'sT" However, the Waterside Workers’ Federation is not prepared to discuss the talks, shying progress will be reported back to members,over the next few monfs.

The chief advocate for the Port Employers’ Association, Captain Ron Palmer, said the general principle order as it stood was not suited to the shipping needs of the 1980 s. Existing agreements were antiquated. Employers wanted the container and sea cargo agreements to stand alone but would like to amalgamate the other 30 covering watersiders’ work into one agreement, he said. It is believed employers want to establish two regular “working periods” on the wharves each day and a twilight period of eight hours each. The new system would have ports working into the night, seven days a week. Watersiders employed in container terminals and sea cargo terminals already ? won late shifts. // Employers want-tiesi*:

of gangs cut 30 per cent but say their intention is not to reduce manning by that level They say the reduction would create more gangs to work over the twowork periods. The system of paying bonuses to watersiders for handling various amounts and types of cargo would come under scrutiny. • “We want to consolidate the bonus system,” said Captain Palmer. “We don’t expect to do away with it, but to update it We certainly expect to have an incentive scheme but we wish to modernise.” The talks will be chaired by a conciliator and aim at reaching. agreement by the end. of June. vj -. .SK.'SSSKVWKi'