Seamen reject travel deal

Press, 22 June 1989, Page 18

Seamen reject travel deal

PA Wellington ' The Seamen’s Union has thrown out a deal negotiated last week between the Railways and union executive members to axe the out-of-port-travel agreement for Cook Strait ferry crews.

The Interislander Line’s manager, Mr Ivan Gough, said he was puzzled and disappointed at the members’ rejection of the agreement.

The union had been offered lump-sum payments as compensation, Mr Gough said. The “Evening Post” reported that the deal involved payments of $BOOO for all crew members, plus further payments depending on where the crew, lived. The total cost to Railways of the compensation payments is understood to be about $5 million.

The out-of-port agreement, under which Railways flies in crew from

their homes throughout New Zealand cost $2.4 million a year. Mr Gough said Railways had also offered to change rosters to provide longer work cycles. The union negotiators had said they would recommend members accept the agreement. But stop-work meetings held on Monday and Tuesday rejected the deal, putting schedules and the planned refurbishment of vessels in jeopardy, Mr Gough said,. The Arahura, which was due to leave earlier this month for Australia for a hull survey before going to Dunedin for refitting, remains tied up in Wellington on indefinite strike.

Delays to the Arahura, together with the requirement for the Aratika to undergo a survey later this month, were likely to affect sailing during the August school holidays.