Hongkong International Terminals makes appeal with advertising blitz
THE 20 per cent pay increase demanded by striking dockers will "cause irreparable damage to Hong Kong," said Hongkong International Terminals (HIT) in a full page advertisement that took up the entire front page of the Hong Kong Standard daily newspaper Monday morning.
This followed other advertisements in Chinese newspapers last week, saying much the same thing.
Meanwhile, dockers continued to picket the Kwai Chung terminal area, which controls 70 per cent of Hong Kong's container throughput, as well as occupying a bivouac in front of the Cheung Kong Centre in Central where the ultimate owner of HIT, Hutchison Whampao, is headquartered.
The union expressed "disappointment" over the HIT public statements in the newspapers, saying they were misleading. They also insisted that Global Stevedoring Services, which was forced out of business by the strike, be represented at talks if held again.
The union also held a march on the Central Government Complex at Tamar to demand help in securing a resolution to the dock strike now in its fourth week.
Said HIT: "Throughout the dispute, striking workers have been unyielding in their demand for a 20 per cent pay increase. Global [Stevedoring] has clearly stated that this was not achievable.
"In the current environment, one would question whether such an increase is achievable for any industry. Surely there can be room for compromise in the face of such unachievable ends," the advertisement said.
The HIT advertisement recommended the proposal put forward by another of it stevedoring contractors, Everbest Port Service (a Wing Fung unit), which made a [5+2] offer for this year that consists of a five per cent increase in salary and an additional two per cent in benefits.
"In addition to this, a five per cent increase in salary has been committed for next year. We ask all workers to carefully consider this proposal and work out a pragmatic and reasonable resolution with their employers," said the HIT advertisement.
"In fact, the average monthly salary for a docker has already reached HK$20,000 (US$2,575), substantially higher than the median person income in Hong Kong of HK$12,000," the statement said.
"Lee Cheuk-yan and the Confederation of Trade Unions have demanded direct negotiations with HIT. HIT has repeated explained that its contractual relations are with the external contractors. HIT does not have employment contracts with the workers of these contractors and therefore is not in the position to participate in direct negotiation with them.
"Nevertheless, HIT has closely monitored the situation, facilitated meetings between the parties and consistently urged the contractors to maintain an open communication channel with their workers. HIT continued to call for all parties to take a macro perspective and to approach the negotiations reasonably and with open minds to as to reach a solution that is acceptable to all," said the HIT statement.
THE 20 per cent pay increase demanded by striking dockers will "cause irreparable damage to Hong Kong," said Hongkong International Terminals (HIT) in a full page advertisement that took up the entire front page of the Hong Kong Standard daily newspaper Monday morning.
This followed other advertisements in Chinese newspapers last week, saying much the same thing.
Meanwhile, dockers continued to picket the Kwai Chung terminal area, which controls 70 per cent of Hong Kong's container throughput, as well as occupying a bivouac in front of the Cheung Kong Centre in Central where the ultimate owner of HIT, Hutchison Whampao, is headquartered.
The union expressed "disappointment" over the HIT public statements in the newspapers, saying they were misleading. They also insisted that Global Stevedoring Services, which was forced out of business by the strike, be represented at talks if held again.
The union also held a march on the Central Government Complex at Tamar to demand help in securing a resolution to the dock strike now in its fourth week.
Said HIT: "Throughout the dispute, striking workers have been unyielding in their demand for a 20 per cent pay increase. Global [Stevedoring] has clearly stated that this was not achievable.
"In the current environment, one would question whether such an increase is achievable for any industry. Surely there can be room for compromise in the face of such unachievable ends," the advertisement said.
The HIT advertisement recommended the proposal put forward by another of it stevedoring contractors, Everbest Port Service (a Wing Fung unit), which made a [5+2] offer for this year that consists of a five per cent increase in salary and an additional two per cent in benefits.
"In addition to this, a five per cent increase in salary has been committed for next year. We ask all workers to carefully consider this proposal and work out a pragmatic and reasonable resolution with their employers," said the HIT advertisement.
"In fact, the average monthly salary for a docker has already reached HK$20,000 (US$2,575), substantially higher than the median person income in Hong Kong of HK$12,000," the statement said.
"Lee Cheuk-yan and the Confederation of Trade Unions have demanded direct negotiations with HIT. HIT has repeated explained that its contractual relations are with the external contractors. HIT does not have employment contracts with the workers of these contractors and therefore is not in the position to participate in direct negotiation with them.
"Nevertheless, HIT has closely monitored the situation, facilitated meetings between the parties and consistently urged the contractors to maintain an open communication channel with their workers. HIT continued to call for all parties to take a macro perspective and to approach the negotiations reasonably and with open minds to as to reach a solution that is acceptable to all," said the HIT statement.