Many watersiders to lose their jobs

Press, 23 July 1986, Page 1

Many watersiders to lose their jobs

PA Wellington Up to 350 waterside workers will lose their jobs because of a dramatic reduction in labour requirements on the waterfront, says the Waterside Workers’ Federation.

The federation secretary, Mr Sam Jennings, said yesterday the workers would be offered voluntary redundancy under an agreement between the federation and the Association of Waterfront Employers.

The offer of redundancy would be available to workers aged over 60 at Auckland, and to workers over 55 at Wellington, Lyttelton, Whangarei, Onehunga, New

Plymouth, Timaru, Bluff, Gisborne, Picton and Westport. It would take effect from August 4 to October 3. Mr Jennings said the reduction of waterside workers was based on the Waterfront Industry Commission’s new bureau register limitations for all ports.

“Waterside workers are always being required to reduce the size of their workforce whenever the waterfront industry is in a downturn without corresponding savings in other waterfront sectors.” "Redundancy on the waterfront is an industry responsibility and not solely for waterside workers.

“Without similar cost savings and improved efficiency by shipping companies, stevedores and harbour boards, the industry will be top-heavy with ‘chiefs’ and no ‘lndians’,” Mr Jennings said. However, the employers’ association welcomed the co-operation of waterside workers in reaching the agreement. Its chief executive, Mr D. W. Young, said the declaration of redundancy would “substantially reduce idle-time costs.”

Mr Young and Mr Jennings said discussions on hours of work and manning scales were progressing well and an agreement could be reached later in the year.