Cargo-Handling Dispute

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30962, 19 January 1966, Page 18

Cargo-Handling Dispute

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 18. One of the first attempts to streamline cargo handling methods resulted in a dispute on the Wellington wharves today. Waterside workers will hold a special stop-work meeting tomorrow morning to discuss the matter.

The dispute arose over the first trial method of loading 350 tons of butter into the Otaki on strapped pallets. The new method is part of a cargo-handling modernisation programme. It involves the use of fork lift trucks, and the loading of pallets of 40 cartons into ship’s holds without removing the cartons from the pallets.

“The dispute concerns the number of men employed for this trial shipment” the secretary of the Wellington Amalgamated Waterside Workers’ Union, Mr G. Tuau, said tonight. “Agreement Repudiated” “The Port Employers’ Association and the watersider workers negotiated an agreement six weeks ago on the number of men to be em-

ployed on the wharves when working by this method,” he said. “This has now been repudiated by the employers.” Mr Tuau said.

The employers claim the waterside workers have failed to abide by the conditions of work contained in an agreed revision of a recent general principle order of the Waterfront Industry Tribunal. It was provided that should the union consider the number engaged was insufficient, the matter would be decided by the Port Conciliation Committee.

As there was no agreement on the manning, the matter was referred to the committee on Monday. A decision was given on the understanding that the chairman would review the position after he had seen the job working.