Threat of waterfront action suspended

Press, 29 July 1989, Page 9

Threat of waterfront action suspended

By

PAM MORTON

An industrial action threat by the New Zealand Harbour Workers’ Union has been suspended after port employers agreed to constitute a conciliation council for the renewal of the union’s national award. The union’s national secretary, Mr Ross Wilson, said industrial action had been averted because of the move by the port employers. At the award talks last week a small ports faction of 10 employers refused to nominate employer negotiators to allow

the conciliation council to proceed and negotiate the renewal of the award, which will expire on August 15. Mr Wilson said the union had withdrawn its claim and refiled, citing as employer parties only the employers who had agreed to nominate negotiators. “The small ports employers were then faced with either co-operating in the negotiations or end up with a national award negotiated by the four large port employers but binding on all ports. “It didn’t take too long before the penny dropped and a conciliation council was established.”