Further strikes set to hit New Zealand ports
February 20, 2012
The Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) has announced ongoing strike action at Ports of Auckland over working conditions.
A one-week full strike notice is already due to start 24 February and a further one-week strike notice starting 2 March has also been placed on the port.
MUNZ and Ports of Auckland Ltd (POAL) have been negotiating to renew the collective agreement at the port since 6 September 2011, but have reached an impasse.
According to MUNZ and The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU), the port wants an agreement where workers concede almost complete flexibility in hours of work and rosters.
In exchange, management have offered a 10% pay increase over 30 months. But port management have said that if workers will not accept this agreement, then the employers will sack all 330 workers and replace them with contract workers.
MUNZ national president Garry Parsloe has claimed any strike action could be lifted if port management returned to negotiations, but the port “will not negotiate and are threatening the livelihoods of workers and their families”.
Meanwhile, the port CEO Tony Gibson has labelled the union's actions as "extremely disappointing", saying they will cause "considerable harm" to businesses.
"Consultation has been one-sided as union representatives have not yet responded to the company in the process. We have made it clear throughout this process that we are open to a solution through collective bargaining, but we are also pursuing a consultation process around potential contracting out."
"We are confident in the processes we are working through on both. Our focus is to provide the certainty our customers and employees are demanding as soon as possible," he said.
Julian Bevis, International Container Lines Committee chair and chief executive of Maersk New Zealand, said the ongoing dispute is a concern for shipping companies.
"Delays add to our costs and, ultimately, to the cost to New Zealand businesses of connecting with customers and markets around the world.
"I note the union's comment that the proposed strike is intended to focus attention on the real issues. For our customers, the real issue is a secure supply chain. If they can't get that from Auckland, they will look elsewhere," he said.
Courtesy of Link 2
