Harbour workers may extend strike

Press, 17 March 1987, Page 1

Harbour workers may extend strike

PA Wellington The dock strike which crippled New Zealand ports may resume by the end of this week. ■ The 24-hour strike by Harbour Workers’ Union members stopped all exports, imports and national shipping including the Cook Strait ferries.

The strike was in support of union pay claims and a demand for guarantees of negotiations on changes to waterfront practices. The union’s national secretary, Mr Ross Wilson, said there had been

no response from the employers, except that the Southland Harbour Board, and possibly other provincial ports, would make a local settlement in the union’s favour. The union’s executive is meeting in Wellington to consider extending the strike. The union could take the strike legally to April 8. “If there is no prospect of a settlement, there will be further industrial action,” Mr Wilson said. Striking would have no economic effect on smaller ports such as Greymouth and Nelson, where there were few if

any ships, and with so much advance warning shipowners had been able to reschedule, Mr Wilson said. But if the strike resumed it would rapidly affect industry and fuel supplies already low round the country because of the recent Union Shipping Group officers’ dispute. Seasonal fruit exports would be particularly hard hit.

The union is asking for a 7 per cent increase for the next 12 months, having rejected an employer offer of 7.5 per cent for 15 months.