More Watersiders Refuse To Work

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30979, 8 February 1966, Page 24

More Watersiders Refuse To Work

(New Zealand Press Association) TAURANGA, February 7. Nearly 200 waterside workers at Mount Maunganui are off work on penalty today as the dispute over safety conditions of work on the Union Steam Ship Company freighter Koranui goes into its fourth day with no immediate solution in sight.

More than 90 men walked off the 5285-ton freighter about noon on Friday, and were put on two-day penalty on Saturday when they ignored a port conciliation committee directive to resume work.

has no labour and none is expected for the company’s coaster, Maunganui, which is scheduled to arrive today. It is understood that no new arrivals to the port will be worked until the Koranui is manned. Apparently the next move lies with the waterfront workers, who could take the issue back to the Port Conciliation Committee to discuss. Mr W. Stephens, walking delegate for the Mount Maunganui and Tauranga Waterside Workers’ Industrial Union of Workers, said today that he could not comment until further negotiations were made.

The number of men off work doubled dramatically today when another seven gangs, totalling more than 100 men, were called to work the freighter but refused. Consequently, the Waterfront Industry Commission Labour Bureau put them on penalty also.

The dispute to date has about halved the waterfront labour force and it appears possible that the full working force could go out within the next two days unless the dispute is resolved. Having Repercussions Even now, the dispute is having repercussions on other ships. The Northern Steam Ship Company coaster, Tawanui, which arrived yesterday.

“We are having meetings today. That is all I can say at this stage.” Mr G. R. Cole, the manager of the Tauranga branch of the Union Steam Ship Company, commenting on the stop-work stand by the waterfront workers, said that the allegation of unsafe working practice was ludicrous.