Threats of lock-outs

Press, 23 November 1988, Page 8

Threats of lock-outs

Employers in the paint, ink and varnish industry in Auckland threatened to lock out about 400 workers by 4 p.m. yesterday.

The employers’ advocate, Mr John Murdock, said employers from nine big companies decided to collectively combat strikes and industrial action troubling the industry since award talks broke down 10 days ago.

But a Chemical Workers’ Union spokesman, Mr Wayne Ruscoe, claimed employers were split on action against

striking workers and only 150 workers were indefinitely locked out by late yesterday afternoon. Forty workers at Coachbrothers’ ink-manufactur-ing plant and 40 at Dulux Paints were striking over the breakdown in award talks and they planned to stay out until a settlement was reached, Mr Ruscoe said. Workers at other factories planned to continue overtime and load-out bans until employers offered a realistic offer. The union is asking for an 8 per cent wage rise

and an increase in conditions. The employers’ offer was 3.5 per cent to 4 per cent, said Mr Ruscoe. The union will meet on Friday to consider further industrial action. Meanwhile, 124 watersiders at Port Taranaki voted unanimously yesterday morning to extend their 24-hour strike for a further 24 hours in protest at the breakdown of their award negotiations. The union secretary, Mr Dennis Parker, said the workers would return to the port today at 7 a.m.

where another meeting would vote on a return to work. The port of Wellington remained at a standstill yesterday as watersiders entered the second day of their 48-hour strike. Watersiders at Gisborne, Whangarei and New Plymouth are also on strike until today.

The watersiders are striking over award talks. Employers have offered 10 per cent tagged to changes in staffing levels, hours worked, and the bonus system.