- Title: JAPAN: WORK ON THE WORLD'S LARGEST TANKER HELD UP BY STRIKES OVER PAY.
- Date: 15th May 1966
- Summary: THE TANKER BEING BUILT - FLAGS FLYING OVER UNION OFFICES. Initials AA/V/MR/EC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 30th May 1966 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: YOKOHAMA CITY, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Reuters ID: LVA4WQU33RUBKG9RJE0X9Q4V8WFR
- Story Text: WORK ON WHAT WILL BECOME THE WORLD'S LARGEST TANKER IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD UP BY STOPPAGES DUE TO A PAY DISPUTE BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND WORKERS AT THE ISHIKAWAJIMA SHIPYARD OF YOKOHAMA CITY, JAPAN. THE "IDEMITSU MARU" WILL BE 200,000 TONS WHEN SHE IS LAUNCHED. WORK STARTED ON FEBRUARY 1ST AND THE SHIP IS 40 PER CENT COMPLETE. IT IS HOPED THAT THE VESSEL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN SEPTEMBER AND DELIVERED IN DECEMBER, BUT NOW LABOUR TROUBLES HAVE INTERRUPTED THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME.
THE UNION ARE DEMANDING AN INCREASE OF ABOUT GBP5. 16 SHILLINGS PER MONTH AND THE MANAGEMENT REPLIED WITH AN OFFER OF GBP3. 4 SHILLINGS. THIS WAS REFUSED AND LAST WEEK THE UNION WENT ON A 68 HOUR STRIKE. SINCE THEN THERE HAS BEEN A SERIES OF TOKEN ONE HOUR STOPPAGES.
DURING THE 68 HOUR STRIKE, THE MANAGEMENT HAD TO HIRE NON-UNION LABOUR WHICH WORSENED RELATIONS BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND UNION. THE MANAGEMENT ARGUED THAT THEY HAD TO ABIDE BY A DELIVERY DATE TO THE IDEMITSU OIL COMPANY.
NOW THE MANAGEMENT HAVE INCREASED THEIR OFFER TO GBP3. 10 SHILLINGS AND THE UNION ARE MEETING ON TUESDAY TO DISCUSS ACCEPTANCE OF THE OFFER.
ALTHOUGH WHEN LAUNCHED THE "IDEMITSU MARU", AT 200,000 TONS WILL TAKE THE TITLE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST TANKER FROM THE 150,000 TON "TOKYO MARU", NEGOTIATIONS ARE ALREADY IN HAND FOR THE BUILDING OF TWO 300,000 TON TANKERS FOR THE GULF OIL COMPANY.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
