Extended smokos out for watersiders

Press, 14 July 1987, Page 8

Extended smokos out for watersiders

Wellington reporter Bad work practices such as extended smokos must end, the Association of Waterfront Employers has told waterside workers. The association last week distributed a pamphlet to its employees calling for an end to inefficient practices and to unnecessary costs. New manning levels, agreed to at the last wage round, came into effect yesterday, but the association is clearly seeking broader industrial changes on the wharves. The pamphlet said that over-manning had led to “spelling” at many ports, but that this should disappear with the reduction of gang strengths. Spelling is unauthorised absenteeism, the associa-

tion’s chief executive, Mr David Young, said yesterday. The pamphlet said that workers would be required to be on the job at all times unless specific approval had been given for absenteeism. “There can be no alternative. Spelling must stop,” the pamphlet said. Other “bad work practices” were also noted, including early knock-offs and extended smokos and lunch breaks. “Such practices reduce productivity and increase costs. In future, starting and finishing times, smokos and lunch breaks will be strictly observed,” the pamphlet said. The Waterside Workers’ Federation could not be reached for comment, but Mr Young said he had

received no formal reply from the federation. He rejected any suggestion that the association was on the offensive against waterside workers. It was not the workers, but the management who were responsible for the bad practices, he said. Mr Young said the extent of the bad practices varied from port to port, but he would not say how prevalent they were at Lyttelton. The pamphlet also said that the association was looking at the question of how to fund redundancies. Discussions would later be held with the federation. The waterfront industry must change if New Zealand transport costs were to . be cut, and exports made more competitive, the pamphlet said.