Waterside workers get big handshake

Press, 24 July 1986, Page 8

Waterside workers get big handshake

PA Wellington Waterside workers, who are to lose their jobs because of a dramatic fall-off in work, stand to get an average of $30,000 a worker in redundancy payments, according to the Employers’ Association chief advocate, Mr Ron Palmer.

Up to 350 workers nationally will be offered voluntary redundancy under an agreement between the Waterside Workers’ Federation and the Association of Waterfront Employers. The offer of v redundancy would be available to workers aged over 60 at Auckland port, and to workers aged 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 Palmer said that the average cost of the redundancy package could be as high as $30,000 a worker.

“Obviously employers think it is worth while in terms of total savings,” he said.

The president of Federated Farmers, Mr Peter Elworthy, yesterday welcomed the drop in manning levels. However, the federation was still doing its sums on how much the redundancy package would cost its members in increased costs on the wharves, he said. ..