All parties agree to talks in wharf row

By ALISON HORWOOD AND NZPA

All parties in the waterfront dispute at Nelson have agreed to accept mediation as strong words fly over police comments that some of the picketers involved in the angry clashes were drunk.

Green MP and Nelson watersiders' supporter Keith Locke is demanding an apology from the police.

Addressing a crowd of about 100 protesters at the gates of the Port of Nelson yesterday, Mr Locke said police allegations were nothing but "biased slander."

The claims were first made by Inspector Jim Wilson. He said that at the Tuesday evening picket "many of the picketers were intoxicated and aggressive towards police."

Waterfront Workers Union members have picketed for two days at the Nelson port because they lost a regular Carter Holt Harvey ship-loading contract to workers employed by Tauranga-based Mainland Stevedoring through the Amalgamated Stevedores Union.

Four people have been arrested at pickets since the log-carrier Eastern Forest arrived at the Nelson on Tuesday evening.

The Department of Labour mediation service manager, Mike Feely, said an experienced mediator, Walter Grills, would meet the parties independently as soon as possible to discuss what resolution processes were appropriate.

Carter Holt Harvey chief executive Chris Liddell said the dispute was in danger of becoming a disgrace to New Zealand.

"For nine weeks we have gone about our business working with Mainland, an innovative family-owned company who employ New Zealanders and who have applied clever technology to a critical part of New Zealand's future.

"Mainland's workers have faced intimidation, slashing of tyres and there was the disgraceful sight of police being confronted by aggressive protesters, some of them drunk."

Mr Liddell rejected union claims that the dispute was about locals losing jobs to outside workers.

"It is about a union trying to resist new economy change and protect a monopoly."

Greg Dixon of Mainland Stevedoring said his company was seeking to hire local people, but he accused the Waterfront Workers Union of intimidating potential employees.

"We've already hired 14 people in the South Island. We have another 12 people who want to work for us, but those 12 can't work for us because they are fearful of the intimidation and potential violence that's going on at the moment."

The Waterfront Workers Union rejected claims that the clashes had been violent and involved intoxicated protesters.

"That is a complete lie and absolutely ludicrous and we can provide witnesses to support that," said the union's Nelson president, Brian Callaghan.

The union's general secretary, Trevor Hanson, said there was a "certain frustration" among people who were watching their jobs disappear. But, he said, "nothing from the union's point of view has ever condoned that [violence and intoxication]."