Communication link at port being planned

Press, 3 December 1987, Page 4

Communication link at port being planned

The Establishment Unit of the Lyttelton Harbour Board is planning to set up a formal communication link with the unions in the port. Several of the unions have complained that they have been ignored by the establishment unit as it works to set up the new port operating company. The liaison committee proposed by the unit will have representatives of the various unions on it,

as well as a representative of the board’s salaried officers. “It will be consultative, informative, but not a negotiating committee,” said the general managerdesignate of the new port • company, Mr lan Brokenshire. “It is not a forum to negotiate industrial agreements,” he said. “But potential industrial problems can be identified.” The actual industrial negotiations would take

place in a smaller forum, with only the particular union involved, he said. The idea of the liaison committee was riased at the trade and commercial development committee of the board yesterday. Mr Don Church, a member of both the board and the establishment unit, said the decisions made by the unit affected the jobs of people In the port, and therefore they should be kept informed.