Clyde dam workers vote to continue strike

Press, 24 May 1988, Page 2

Clyde dam workers vote to continue strike

Striking Clyde dam workers voted on Sunday to continue their industrial action into a fourth month.

The employing joint venture, Zublin-William-son, said yesterday that the strike was at an impasse. There was nothing left to offer the 500 combined site workers.

The impasse on the site of New Zealand’s biggest hydro-electric project has taken on a new meaning for the striking joint-ven-ture workers, according to the combined site union convener.

Mr Allan Fleming said the workers were not prepared to capitulate because failure would mean unfair conditions on the next energy project

planned for Central Otago. Mr Fleming said the proposed Luggate dam was “not as far away as some would like to have you believe.” That project, like the $955 million Clyde dam, would likely be built by private sector contractors, he said. If the workers failed in their endeavour to gain relativity with Works Corporation staff they would have to accept identical conditions on the next project. Mr Fleming denied that the strike was a ploy by the combined union to extend the project, ensur-

ing workers’ jobs for a few more months.

The striking workers want a 7 per cent wage increase, improved site allowances, better on-site safety, and a commitment from Zublin-Williamson on shift work.

However, the join venture reiterated its stand not to budge until the 500 strikers returned to work.

Mr Mike Hanson, the joint venture’s advocate, said “I don’t see an end to this action.

“The union has to get realistic,” he said. Mr Hanson questioned the strike’s motive. After

agreeing on many of the union’s claims he believed more money was its only demand. However, continued industrial action was futile. The joint venture did mot have the money to offer the workers.

It had already suggested a package that totalled a 10 per cent increase in workers’ payments. The union’s demands totalled about 20 per cent. “If we had more money to offer would we have sat this one out for 12 weeks. Another 12 weeks is not going to get us more money,” Mr Hanson said.