Longer strike could put other port workers off

Press, 2 September 1989, Page 11

Longer strike could put other port workers off

By

PAM MORTON

and PA

Waterfront industry workers face suspension if the watersiders’ strike continues into next week, says the secretary of the Lyttelton branch of the Harbour Workers’ Union, Mr Paul Corliss.

Mr Corliss said suspensions of harbour workers would depend on any further action by watersiders following the four-day strike due to end Monday. “I’m quite sure they are looking at suspensions nationally, but I think a lot will depend on what watersiders do next week,” he said. The possibility of action against harbour workers was of big concern to the union, Mr Corliss said.

“In terms of the principle of a national award we have a vested interest in that argument and we will be fully supporting the watersiders on that principle,” he said. Yesterday about 25 har-

bour workers and 15 foremen stevedores working at the Lyttelton container terminal took voluntary leave to help the work situation.

Mr Corliss said the offer had been made by the union to the Lyttelton Port Company to help the company and prevent the escalation of any suspensions.

The company’s general manager, Mr lan Brokenshire, said workers had shown a great deal of cooperation by agreeing to take outstanding leave. Suspensions had not been looked at because of the co-operation. The strike, due to end on Monday, is expected to hold up more than 100 ships.

The national secretary of the - Waterfront Workers’ Union, Mr Sam Jennings, has not ruled out the possibility of the strike continuing past Monday, saying the situation would be reviewed

men. Employers have said the strike could lead to factory closings and job losses.

The president of the New Zealand Timber Federation, Mr Jack Butterworth, has warned that a number of sawmillers were looking at cutting back production, which would result in a return to a four-day week.

Mr Butterworth said the disruptions to shipping were causing serious damage to the Australian export market at a time when it was particularly fragile.

The industry exported about $l3 million of timber a month, much of that shipped across the Tasman to Australia.

The forestry industry was being forced to rotate its workers on annual leave and another 30 owner-drivers were being rostered off one day a week because of the strike.

The director-general of the Manufacturers’ Federation, Mr Wally Gardner, said the strike should not seriously affect raw material imports but supplies would run out if action was prolonged.

The action would seriously harm exporters’ reputations with their overseas clients. “There is no doubt that interruption to the flow of goods like this does create long-term problems,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bolger, has called on the Minister of Labour, Ms Clark, to arrange a meeting between the two parties to try to settle the dispute.

“The Government is going to have to come down off the fence and make something of it,” he said. “It will have to make some movements to break the impasse. “Watersiders must get back to work.”