NEW ZEALAND

Cross-Island Ferry Workers Notified of Lockout: New Zealand Rail Ltd. said it is issuing notices to Cook Strait ferry workers that they will be barred from coming to work June 27 unless maritime unions agree to new work provisions. The company runs ferries between New Zealand’s North and South islands. The lockout notices follow the breakdown of talks with maritime unions over labor conditions. New Zealand Rail says the unions are featherbedding, with about 40% more workers than needed to meet safety standards. New Zealand Rail is controlled by U.S.-based Wisconsin Central Transportation Corp.