Unionist wants retention

Press, 30 September 1988, Page 6

Unionist wants retention

Dismantling the Waterfront Industries Commission could return New Zealand ports to the volatile industrial atmosphere of the 19305, said the secretary of the Waterside Workers’ Federation, Mr Sam Jennings, last evening. The federation would oppose any move to remove the commission because it was a valuable and calming buffer between employers and waterfront workers, he said.

“The W.I.C. is an arm of Government and the Government must continue to play a role on the waterfront. It has this responsibility to the exporters and producer boards. It is too dangerous for the Government to just step aside. ” Mr Jennings said the commission had helped stabilise industrial relations at New Zealand ports. “A waterfront is a fairly volatile area and serious problems can arise if a

dispute closes the lifeline of a country. The W.I.C. was set up in the 1930 s to act as a buffer and because of the commission New Zealand has been relatively free of major port disputes. “What the Minister seems to be aiming for is to put things back to the state of open warfare that existed in the 19305.” Mr Jennings said that if the intention was to vest the organisation of waterfront labour in the new port authorities, there

would be disputes that would shut ports throughout New Zealand. “New Zealand harbour boards are the worst administrators of waterfronts in the world. If they take over the labour force it will only lead to major disputes.” Mr Jennings said the Waterside Workers’ Federation had made and would again make submissions to the Government, calling for the retention of the commission.