Withdrawal Of Bus Delays Cargo Work

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31003, 8 March 1966, Page 1

Withdrawal Of Bus Delays Cargo Work

Members of the Lyttelton Waterside Workers’ Union did not begin handling cargo at Cashin quay until 1.20 p.m. yesterday because of the withdrawal of a special bus service to take watersiders to and from the quay at the beginning and end of tea breaks and at lunch time.

I The Dutch passenger- ! freighter. Straat Madura, was | to have begun discharging 400 tons of West African timber | at the quay, but remained i idle throughout the morning ; The withdrawal of the bus i service' coincided with the I opening yesterday morning of | the new amenities building at j Cashin quay which is equipped to provide light I meals f«r watersiders. Until yesterday waterisiders employed al Cashin quay were provided with bus transport for the breaks, in | addition to that at the beginJ ning and end of the day, to take them the mile from Ceni tennial Hall to the quay and [return. Yesterday the normal 7 a m. bus service was provided. but watersiders refused Ito use it because there was no provision for walking time , or lunch-time transport. i A Port Conciliation Com-; 1 mittee meeting was held atl [9.30 a m. and the chairman (Mr R. H. Duff) ruled that; ; work should commence at 1 [ ' p.m. and that discussions be-1 tween the Port Employers’ i Association and the union I

should take place before noon today, with a view to arriving at an interim or permanent agreement. The secretary of the union (Mr R. K. Fergus) said yesterday that his union had tried to get agreement on transport, but without success. He hoped that a further i meeting would resolve the problem. The secretary of the Lyttelton branch of the Port Employers’ Association (Mr J. [Twomey) said it was agreed in July that transport would be provided to expedite the use of the quay. It was also agreed that buses would only be nm at the beginning and end of the day when the amenities block was ready for use

Mr Twomey said that negotiations on local conditions would be discussed on March 28 and 29 between national and local representatives of both parties. Because the new block provided similar facilities to those at Centennial Hall, mid-day transport to and from Cashin quay was unnecessary.