Striking dockers want 12pc hike, stevedoring contractors offer 7pc ANOTHER meeting between representatives of the striking Hong Kong dockers broke up yesterday with the union demanding a 12 per cent pay increase while stevedoring contractors offered a seven per cent hike.
Strikebound Hong Kong International Terminals (HIT) reported more workers abandoning the strike and returning to work, but today's company communique made no mention of improved productivity from 86 per cent it cited in an earlier statement.
Union leader Stanley Ho of the Union of Hong Kong Dockers accused HIT of playing with figures after it issued a statement saying that operations at the port had largely returned to normal, reported the Standard. The Hong Kong Shippers Council, the customer group, told the Hong Kong Shipping Gazette that shippers continued to suffer delays, but also said that service at the Kwai Chung terminal had improved. Earlier, they estimated that terminal productivity was down 20 per cent. Hong Kong's Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) at first cancelled 12 sailing to Hong Kong diverting ship to ports the length of the South China Sea, but in yesterday's updated schedule, the carrier replaced "omit calling Hong Kong" with "to be advised" in forthcoming calls at the terminal.
Yesterday's HIT statement focused on media reports of "black market workers" coming into replace strikers with the terminal operator, denying any involvement in such activity.
"HIT requires all workers to meet legal and occupational safety requirements and have received sufficient training," said HIT, which is owned by Singapore-listed Hutchison Port Holdings Trust, which in turn is owned by Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa. Other media reports said the terminal staff had been overworked. To which HIT said: "HIT would like to make it clear that all types of work are on a shift basis, which is voluntarily agreed upon between the workers and the external contractors. There are rest periods within each shift, as well as facilities inside the terminals for the workers to take a break. HIT pays close attention to safety and health, and always remind the workers to take plenty of rest." At the third round of talks yesterday, representatives from two unions, the Confederation of Trade Unions and the leftist Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions, said they would not accept any less than 12 per cent.
But docker representatives said the "attitude of the contractors was much better", but that their offer is still too low, and they expressed the hope that the contractors would re-consider, and that the Labour Department would arrange another meeting.
Hong Kong Labour Secretary Matthew Cheung said he was optimistic the dispute would soon be resolved. Hong Kong Chief CY Leung said the government is very concerned about the strike.
Before the meeting the contractors urged the workers to give them a more realistic solution, and at the end of the talks they said they would work out a new position if it were possible.
The dockers' representatives warned that if there is no result from the next meeting they will escalate strike action, but would not provide details.
Strikebound Hong Kong International Terminals (HIT) reported more workers abandoning the strike and returning to work, but today's company communique made no mention of improved productivity from 86 per cent it cited in an earlier statement.
Union leader Stanley Ho of the Union of Hong Kong Dockers accused HIT of playing with figures after it issued a statement saying that operations at the port had largely returned to normal, reported the Standard. The Hong Kong Shippers Council, the customer group, told the Hong Kong Shipping Gazette that shippers continued to suffer delays, but also said that service at the Kwai Chung terminal had improved. Earlier, they estimated that terminal productivity was down 20 per cent. Hong Kong's Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) at first cancelled 12 sailing to Hong Kong diverting ship to ports the length of the South China Sea, but in yesterday's updated schedule, the carrier replaced "omit calling Hong Kong" with "to be advised" in forthcoming calls at the terminal.
Yesterday's HIT statement focused on media reports of "black market workers" coming into replace strikers with the terminal operator, denying any involvement in such activity.
"HIT requires all workers to meet legal and occupational safety requirements and have received sufficient training," said HIT, which is owned by Singapore-listed Hutchison Port Holdings Trust, which in turn is owned by Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa. Other media reports said the terminal staff had been overworked. To which HIT said: "HIT would like to make it clear that all types of work are on a shift basis, which is voluntarily agreed upon between the workers and the external contractors. There are rest periods within each shift, as well as facilities inside the terminals for the workers to take a break. HIT pays close attention to safety and health, and always remind the workers to take plenty of rest." At the third round of talks yesterday, representatives from two unions, the Confederation of Trade Unions and the leftist Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions, said they would not accept any less than 12 per cent.
But docker representatives said the "attitude of the contractors was much better", but that their offer is still too low, and they expressed the hope that the contractors would re-consider, and that the Labour Department would arrange another meeting.
Hong Kong Labour Secretary Matthew Cheung said he was optimistic the dispute would soon be resolved. Hong Kong Chief CY Leung said the government is very concerned about the strike.
Before the meeting the contractors urged the workers to give them a more realistic solution, and at the end of the talks they said they would work out a new position if it were possible.
The dockers' representatives warned that if there is no result from the next meeting they will escalate strike action, but would not provide details.