Hawaii Longeshoreman Strike Averted

HONOLULU (AP) - Hawaii's shipping industry and the state dockworkers' union reached a tentative settlement early Monday, averting a dock strike that threatened to cripple the islands' economy.

The agreement was reached at 12:20 a.m., after nearly 34 hours of negotiations over two days.

The threat of a strike had triggered panic buying of staples like rice and toilet paper in Hawaii, where 90% of goods arrive by ship.

International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142 President Eusebio Lapenia and Tim Ho, president of the Hawaii Employers Council, refused to discuss details of the accord. It must be ratified by a majority of the union's 507 members in votes that have yet to be scheduled.

The employers council represents four shipping companies.

The dockworkers union had been seeking a contract similar to the three-year, 8% wage increase West Coast dockworkers received this summer.

Although neither side discussed specific salary figures, published reports said that under the contract that expired June 30, Hawaii dockworkers received anywhere from $55,000 to $150,000, depending on their job, hours and overtime.

Gov. Ben Cayetano, who offered to mediate if a settlement could not be reached, had warned that a dock strike could cripple Hawaii's economy, which he said is finally making gains after a nine-year slump.

Earlier this month, dockworkers staged a work slowdown that created a backlog of unloaded cargo ships in Honolulu Harbor.

Hawaii's docks were shut down for five months in 1949, and for 100 days in 1971 because of a West Coast strike.